2026 CS Kinoshita Group Cup
| 2026 CS Kinoshita Group Cup | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type: | ISU Challenger Series |
| Date: | September 4 – 6 |
| Season: | 2026–27 |
| Location: | Tokyo, Japan |
| Host: | Japan Skating Federation |
| Venue: | Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena |
| Previous: 2025 CS Kinoshita Group Cup | |
| Previous CS: 2026 CS Cranberry Cup International | |
The 2026 Kinoshita Group Cup is a figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by the Japan Skating Federation, and the second event of the 2026–27 ISU Challenger Series. It will be held at the Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena in Tokyo, Japan, from September 4 to 6, 2026. Medals will be awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance, and skaters will earn ISU World Standing points based on their results.
Background
The ISU Challenger Series was introduced in 2014. It is a series of international figure skating competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) and organized by ISU member nations. The objective was to ensure consistent organization and structure within a series of international competitions linked together, providing opportunities for senior-level skaters to compete at the international level and also earn ISU World Standing points.[1] The 2026–27 Challenger Series consists of eleven events, of which the Kinoshita Group Cup is the second. The 2026 Kinoshita Group Cup will be held at the Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena in Tokyo, Japan, from September 4 to 6, 2026.[2]
On June 30, 2026, the ISU announced that figure skaters from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete at international competitions as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs).[3] Each skater was required to undergo an individual assessment conducted by the ISU Council to determine whether they met the criteria for neutral status. These requirements included having not previously taken active part in the war in Ukraine, as well as having not actively and publicly supported the war. As AINs, Russian and Belarusian skaters were required to compete without items of state recognition such as their national flags or anthems.[4]
Changes to preliminary assignments
The International Skating Union published the preliminary list of entrants on August 10, 2026.[5][6][7][8]
| Date | Discipline | Withdrew | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 17 | Ice Dance | [9] | |
| August 19 | Women | ||
| August 20 | Men |
Required performance elements
Single skating
Men and women competing in single skating first perform their short programs on September 4.[2] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,[10] the short program has to include the following elements:
For men: one double or triple Axel; one triple or quadruple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, two triple jumps, or a quadruple jump and a double jump or triple jump; one flying spin; one camel spin or sit spin with a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and one step sequence using the full ice surface.[11]
For women: one double or triple Axel; one triple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, or two triple jumps; one flying spin; one layback spin, sideways leaning spin, camel spin, or sit spin without a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and one step sequence using the full ice surface.[11]
Men perform their free skates on September 5, while women perform theirs on September 6.[2] The free skate can last no more than 4 minutes,[10] and has to include the following: six jump elements, of which one has to be an Axel-type jump; three spins, of which one has to be a spin combination, one a flying spin, and one a choreographic spin; one step sequence; and a choreographic sequence.[12]
Pair skating
Couples competing in pair skating first perform their short programs on September 5.[2] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,[10] the short program has to include the following elements: one pair lift, one double or triple twist lift, one double or triple throw jump, one double or triple solo jump, one pair spin combination, one death spiral, and one step sequence using the full ice surface.[13]
Couples then perform their free skates on September 6.[2] The free skate can last no more than 4 minutes,[10] and has to include the following: two pair lifts, one twist lift, two different throw jumps, one solo jump, one jump combination or sequence, one choreographic pair spin, and one death spiral.[14]
Ice dance
Couples competing in ice dance first perform their rhythm dances on September 5.[2] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 50 seconds,[10] the theme of the rhythm dance this season is "Rhythm and Waltz".[15] The rhythm dance has to include the following elements: one section of the Golden Waltz pattern dance, one creative dance element, one dance lift, one set of sequential twizzles, and one step sequence while not touching.[15]
Couples then perform their free dances on September 6.[2] The free dance can last no longer than 4 minutes,[10] and has to include the following: three dance lifts or one short lift and one combination lift; one dance spin; one step sequence in hold; one set of synchronized twizzles, one one-foot turns sequence in hold, and two choreographic elements.[15]
Judging
Skaters are judged according to the required technical elements of their program (such as jumps and spins), as well as the overall presentation of their program, based on three program components (skating skills, presentation, and composition). Each technical element in a figure skating performance is assigned a predetermined base point value and scored by a panel of nine judges on a scale from −5 to +5 based on the quality of its execution.[16] Each Grade of Execution (GOE) from –5 to +5 is assigned a value as indicated on the Scale of Values.[17][15] For example, a triple Axel is worth a base value of 8.00 points, and a GOE of +3 is worth 2.40 points, so a triple Axel with a GOE of +3 earns 10.40 points.[17] The judging panel's GOE for each element is determined by calculating the trimmed mean (the average after discarding the highest and lowest scores). The panel's scores for all elements are added together to generate a Total Elements Score.[18] At the same time, the judges evaluate each performance based on the five aforementioned program components and assign each a score from 0.25 to 10 in 0.25-point increments. The judging panel's final score for each program component is also determined by calculating the trimmed mean. Those scores are then multiplied by the factor shown on the chart below; the results are added together to generate a total Program Component Score.[19]
| Discipline | Short program or rhythm dance |
Free skate or free dance |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 1.67 | 3.33 |
| Women | 1.33 | 2.67 |
| Pairs | 1.33 | 2.67 |
| Ice dance | 1.33 | 2.00 |
Deductions are applied for certain violations, such as time infractions, stops and restarts, or falls.[20] The Total Elements Score and Program Component Score are then added together, minus any deductions, to generate a final performance score for each skater or team.[21]
References
- ↑ "Challenger Series". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 29, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kinoshita Group Cup 2026" (PDF). Japan Skating Federation. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Adaptation to ISU Communication 2469 – Readmission of Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs)". International Skating Union. June 30, 2026. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Questions & Answers: Adaptation of ISU Communication 2469 Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs)" (PDF). International Skating Union. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
- ↑ "ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2026 – Men". International Skating Union. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2026 – Women". International Skating Union. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2026 – Pairs". International Skating Union. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2026 – Ice dance". International Skating Union. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- ↑ "ISU Challenger Series Figure Skating Kinoshita Group Cup 2026". August 17, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) The competition website posted the message in Japanese above the list of participating skaters. - 1 2 3 4 5 6 S&P/ID 2026, p. 50.
- 1 2 S&P/ID 2026, p. 67.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, p. 70.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, p. 75.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, p. 77.
- 1 2 3 4 "Communication No. 2795: Ice Dance – Requirements for Technical Specifications" (PDF). International Skating Union. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ S&P/ID 2026, pp. 9, 52–53.
- 1 2 3 "Communication No. 2786: Single & Pair Skating – Scale of Values and Program Components" (PDF). International Skating Union. 2 July 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, p. 9.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, p. 10.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, pp. 10–11.
- ↑ S&P/ID 2026, p. 12.
Works cited
- "Sports Rules – Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.