TICKETS FOR ALL NINE SESSIONS OF U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS REMAIN AVAILABLE AT VARIOUS PRICE LEVELS WITH MANY FREE AND ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN IN THE EXCITEMENT
Key Takeaways:
- A bevy of free and fun figure skating-themed activities across the St. Louis region will allow St. Louisans and visiting fans plenty of opportunity to experience the excitement of the event.
- The 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships will have a major presence throughout St. Louis and impact the entire region.
- For images to accompany stories, please view a selection of visuals here.
ST. LOUIS – Jan. 2, 2026 – Many months of planning will lead to the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships making its mark on St. Louis next week. More than 180 athletes will descend upon the region starting tomorrow as junior and novice competitors take the ice for competition at Centene Community Ice Center Monday, Jan. 5 and Tuesday, Jan. 6. Championship level skaters take the ice at Enterprise Center Jan. 7-10 vying for national titles and spots on the 2026 Olympic Team. It all culminates on Sunday, Jan. 11 with the selection of the U.S. figure skaters that will represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Tickets for all sessions of competition, and for Making the Team presented by Xfinity, are available at various price levels. More information on tickets and a full event schedule can be found at skatestlouis2026.com.
More Than a Championship – a Citywide Celebration of Sport, Community, and Culture
Throughout the weeklong event in St. Louis, there are numerous community engagement initiatives that provide St. Louisans and visiting fans a chance to experience the sport of figure skating and the excitement of witnessing the nation’s best skaters competing at their peak just before they take on the world at the Olympic Games.
Most activities are free and open to the public, though some require tickets. A summary of the activities and events surrounding the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships appears below:
Winterfest in Kiener Plaza
Through a partnership with Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the annual Winterfest celebration in Kiener Plaza will be extended to run through the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, acting as a “fan fest” with a weekend full of skating-focused programming and events Jan. 9, 10, and 11. All are invited to attend special open-skate sessions on the Winterfest rink, led by Learn to Skate USA. Former Olympians including Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, and Tenley Albright are set to make appearances. There will be interactive arts displays, family-friendly activities, and live music across Kiener Plaza. All Winterfest events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. A schedule can be found at archpark.org/events/Winterfest.
St. Louis Public Library Events
Bringing together education and the historic beginnings of skating, Downtown’s St. Louis Central Library will host special programming that blends education, culture, and figure skating – introducing residents of all ages to the origins and artistry of skating.
- Tuesday, Jan. 6 // Glide through time with us! // 6 p.m.
Dr. Beverly Thurber will conduct a captivating “History of the Skate Blade” talk featuring rare, authentic skating artifacts and antique figure skates dating back centuries. From early designs to the blades that changed the sport, this is a one-of-a-kind look at how skating evolved—perfect for history buffs and skating fans alike.
- Saturday, Jan. 10 // Ice Skating Storytime: A Cool Trip Through Time! // 10:30 a.m.
Kids are invited to lace up their imaginations and travel back in time during our Ice Skating Storytime. We’ll explore how ice skates have changed over hundreds of years, see real skate blades, and check out some super old ice skates that helped people glide across frozen ponds long ago. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn a little history and have a lot of fun—perfect for curious kids and future skaters!
St. Louis-Based Artists Playing a Visible Role
In collaboration with the Regional Arts Commission (RAC), the St. Louis Sports Commission has partnered with dozens of St. Louis-based artists to welcome U.S. Figure Skating to St. Louis. Bringing the artistry of figure skating to life through various forms, RAC artists’ work will be seen throughout the region:
- Interactive art displays at Winterfest Jan. 9-11
- Locally designed scarves for every competing athlete
- Window mural on Downtown’s historic Wainwright Building
- Custom prints marking the occasion of the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
- Artist Brock Seals custom-painting a pair of skates live at Enterprise Center Friday, Jan. 9
One pair of custom-painted skates will be autographed by the 2026 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team, which will be selected in St. Louis, and raffled off to a lucky winner. You can enter the raffle here.
Great Giveaways
Fans can expect fun and unique giveaways to spice up the atmosphere surrounding the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kids will be delighted to get their hands on the figure skating-themed friendship bracelets, temporary tattoos, and make-your-own posters at Enterprise Center. And everyone will be delighted to get their hands in a pair of U.S. Figure Skating Championships “Meet Me In St. Louis” gloves. There are limited quantities of these specially designed items so finding them will resemble a treasure hunt. As a special promotion, the first 1,000 ticketed fans through the gates at Enterprise Center for the Thursday, Jan. 8 evening session (doors open at 6:15 p.m.) will score a pair of limited-edition “Meet Me In St. Louis” gloves.
Access and Opportunity – Gateway to Figure Skating
Using the power of St. Louis’ Olympic legacy and the inspiration of the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the St. Louis Sports Commission launched Gateway to Figure Skating, a program designed to bring the sport of skating to underserved areas of the region. Through partnerships with local ice rinks, figure skating clubs, and Learn to Skate USA, a series of free learn-to-skate sessions have been held over the past several months, which has allowed more than 100 St. Louis area youth to experience ice skating for the first time. Once the kids’ interest is sparked, they are signed up for ongoing learn to skate classes at no cost. With the goal to remove barriers to skating for kids in underserved areas, the Sports Commission plans to keep the program going as a legacy of the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The program also will provide complimentary tickets to hundreds of kids from underserved areas to attend and experience the Championships in person at Enterprise Center.
Build-A-Bear Takes Center Ice
As part of a new partnership with U.S. Figure Skating, Build-A-Bear is the Official Stuffed Animal of the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The tradition in figure skating is fans showering the ice by tossing plush stuffies in honor of their favorite skaters after their performances, and now the St. Louis-based Build-A-Bear will be the official supplier of these stuffies as the figure skating world comes to its hometown. As part of the collaboration, Build-A-Bear will be on site at the Championships with a delightful selection of furry friends available for fans to purchase.
Local Kids Become Ice Sweepers
More than 50 young skaters from the St. Louis area have been selected to be ice sweeper volunteers during the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Sweepers are young skaters (ages 8-14) who have the privilege of skating on the ice after the competitors complete their programs to collect all the stuffies that are thrown by fans, as is tradition in figure skating competitions. The skaters completed tryouts and were selected based on their skating ability, personality, and positive attitude. These positions are considered an honor for a young skater and a special benefit to local skating clubs and their members. A complete list of sweepers and their photos can be found here.
Figure Skating Décor
It will be difficult to go anywhere in St. Louis without seeing some of the artistry, color, and branding of the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. From the 30-foot Championships logo on the front entrance of Enterprise Center, to the 7-foot high freestanding skate fixtures placed at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, the Saint Louis Zoo, and Kiener Plaza, to the dressed-up windows and street pole banners downtown, to the lighting displays at the St. Louis Planetarium, St. Louis Wheel at Union Station, Ballpark Village, and other sites around town, figure skating has taken over the St. Louis landscape!
Figure Skating is Fun and Delicious
St. Louis-area restaurants are getting in the spirit of the Championships with figure-skating themed menu items. Among the tasty creations available next week are:
- “On Thin Ice” Cocktail at The Fountain on Locust
- Gold Medal Mixers at UPBARstl
- Blades of Glory Boxed Lunches at Snarf’s
- Team USA-Themed Freak Shake at St. Louis Union Station Soda Fountain
For more information or for interview requests, please contact Tim Ryan at tryan@stlsports.org or (314) 406-5791.