World's top figure skating competition to be held in Shenzhen

Some of the world’s top figure skaters will compete in Shenzhen from Nov. 6 to 8, when the city hosts the Cup of China for the first time. Sixty athletes are expected to take part in men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs and ice dance at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center Gymnasium.

A poster for the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China 2026. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

First held in 2003, the Cup of China is an ISU Category A event and the highest-level international figure skating competition regularly staged in China.

The Shenzhen event is the third of six stops in the 2026–27 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Skaters earn points at each event, with the leading competitors advancing to the Grand Prix Final.

It also marks another addition to Shenzhen’s international sporting calendar. The city has previously hosted several IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments, but this will be its first ISU Category A figure skating event.

Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov heads the international field. He became his country’s first Olympic figure skating champion when he won men’s gold at Milano Cortina 2026.

Japan’s Shun Sato, who took the Olympic bronze in the same event, is also set to compete. In the women’s competition, his compatriot Mone Chiba arrives as the 2026 world silver medallist, while South Korea’s Lee Haein completes the list of leading international contenders.

Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava, who won Olympic pairs silver at Milano Cortina, are expected to compete in Shenzhen. Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, bronze medallists in ice dance at the 2026 European Championships, are also on the entry list.

Chen Yudong and Peng Zhiming are among the home entrants in the men’s competition. The pair won silver and bronze respectively at the 2025–26 Chinese Figure Skating Championships.

In the women’s event, Zhang Ruiyang returns to international competition after making her Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. She is joined by Zhu Yi, who represented China at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The final lineup is subject to the latest official announcement.

Each of the four disciplines offers a different test of skill.

The four disciplines' competition schedule. 

Singles skating combines jumps, spins and footwork, with competitors required to balance technical difficulty against the interpretation of their music.

In pairs, lifts, twist lifts and throw jumps add another dimension. Success depends not only on individual technique, but also on timing, co-ordination and trust.

Ice dance places greater emphasis on the quality of skating, rhythm and partnership. Couples use intricate steps and closely coordinated movements to interpret their chosen music.

Watching from the stands also reveals details that are less apparent on television: the sound of blades cutting into the ice, the acceleration before a jump and the flow between elements. For those new to the sport, there is no single way to watch. The technical elements, choreography and performance all offer different ways into the competition.

Dates: Nov. 6–8, 2026

Ticketing: Tickets can be purchased on platforms including Piaoxingqiu (票星球), Yipiaoda (壹票达), Maoyan (猫眼), Damai (大麦), ShowStart (秀动), Wanyouji (湾游记) and Trip.com (携程)

More ticketing information can be found on Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center's WeChat official account "深圳大运中心."

Venue: Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center Gymnasium, Longgang District (深圳大运中心体育馆)

Metro: Line 16 to Universiade Center Station (大运中心站), Exit E

Scan the QR codes in the poster to buy tickets