Five things to watch at World Figure Skating Championships

The 2025 world gold medal winners (left to right) Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States, Ilia Malinin of the United States, Alysa Liu of the United States, and Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan [Getty Images] After lighting up Milan at the Winter Olympics, many of the world's best figure skaters conclude their 2025-26 seasons at the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. The competition, taking place at O2 Arena in the capital of the Czech Republic, will feature most of the biggest stars from this year's Games in Italy. However both the men's and women's individual gold medallists - Mikhail Shaidorov and Alysa Liu - have both chosen not to enter.

Competition takes place from 25 to 29 March, and action from the free skates and free dance - where the medals are decided - will be live on BBC iPlayer. All times GMT Thursday, 26th March 1715-2100: Pairs Free Skating Friday, 27th March 1700-2100: Women's Free Skating Saturday, 28th March 1130-1530: Men's Free Skating 1730-2115: Ice Dance Free Dance There will also be a highlights programme on Sunday, 29 March on BBC Two, between 1300 and 1500 GMT. Whether you are new to figure skating, a veteran fan or needing your fix after enjoying the Olympics, here are the major stories to look out for...

Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics Full schedule including times of medal events Winter Olympics 2026 medal table Sakamoto aims to exit on a high after Liu withdraws Alysa Liu's withdrawal means she will not win Olympic gold and the world title in this same season [Getty Images] Just as at the Olympics, expect the women's competition to be a fight between USA and Japan for the medal places. However the balance has been tipped back in favour of the Japanese after Liu, the reigning world champion who added Olympic gold last month with a stunning free skate routine, withdrew from competition. It completed an incredible comeback for Liu, who quit the sport aged 16 after the 2022 Olympics as she was not enjoying herself.

Since the Olympics, Liu has become a mainstream celebrity in the USA - she was recently seen at the Oscars - but admits she has not had enough prep time to compete effectively at the Worlds. "There's so many commitments I have and activities that are overlapping with the Worlds," she told NBC. "And then also I don't have much time training, so I was like, I can't be doing the Worlds.