The 30-second version (read this if you’re busy)
Figure skating begins tomorrow, Feb. 6, with the Olympic team event — a fast, dramatic, points-based showdown where countries stack skaters across ice dance, pairs, women’s singles, and men’s singles. One wobbly landing can swing the entire medal picture, and the women’s short program is part of Day 1. (U.S. Figure Skating)
What’s happening tomorrow (and why you should care)
The team event is skating’s ultimate “group project,” except everyone is elite and the rubric is unforgiving. Countries earn placement points each segment (10 for first, 9 for second… and so on), and only the top five teams after the short programs + rhythm dance advance to the free skates/free dance. (NBC Olympics)
So tomorrow isn’t a warm-up.
It’s the first leaderboard that matters.
Day 1 schedule (Team Event) — easiest viewing plan
All times Eastern (ET), and yes, it’s an early alarm situation:
4:00–5:35 a.m. ET — Team Event: Rhythm Dance
5:35–7:35 a.m. ET — Team Event: Pairs Short Program
7:35–8:55 a.m. ET — Team Event: Women’s Short Program (NBC Los Angeles)
*(If you’re reading this in Europe: competition begins 9:55 a.m. CET.) (U.S. Figure Skating)
How to watch (without making it a whole ordeal)
Here’s the simplest setup for U.S. viewers:
Option A: “I want it easy”
Peacock streams live Olympic figure skating (and the team event segments listed above). (NBC Los Angeles)
Option B: “I already pay for cable/TV”
You can authenticate and stream via NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, or the NBC Sports app. (NBC Olympics)
Option C: “Give me the pure skating feed”
NBC’s coverage includes venue-feed streams (natural sound, no commentary) on competition days. (NBC Los Angeles)
Missing it live?
Full-event replays are available after streams conclude (NBCOlympics replay hub is the cleanest path). (NBC Olympics)
Who Team USA is putting on the ice tomorrow
U.S. Figure Skating has already named the Day 1 starters for three segments:
Rhythm Dance: Madison Chock / Evan Bates (reigning world champs; 2022 team event gold medalists)
Pairs Short Program: Ellie Kam / Danny O’Shea
Women’s Short Program: Alysa Liu (U.S. Figure Skating)
Also key: NBC Olympics reporting notes Team USA plans to use Liu in the short and Amber Glenn in the women’s free, which matters because teams can only make two substitutions after the first round. (NBC Olympics)
The team event strategy, explained like the average viewer…
How it works
Each segment awards placement points: 10 for 1st, 9 for 2nd, etc. (NBC Olympics)
Totals add up across eight segments (shorts/rhythm + frees/free dance). (NBC Olympics)
After the early segments, only the top five countries advance to the final round. (NBC Olympics)
Why substitutions are a big deal
You’re allowed to swap skaters in up to two disciplines after the first round — which means federations are constantly balancing:
max points today
keeping stars fresh for individual medals
minimizing risk (NBC Olympics)
Translation: this is part skating, part coaching chess.
Storylines to watch starting tomorrow
1) USA’s depth vs. everyone else’s “please don’t fall”
U.S. Figure Skating is openly framing 2026 as a high-ceiling moment for Team USA — a 16-athlete roster with medal potential across disciplines. (U.S. Figure Skating)
If the U.S. is clean early, they can force other contenders into higher-risk decisions fast.
2) Women’s short program = instant pressure cooker
The women’s short is where you get zero time to settle in. It’s the segment that can turn “contender” into “calculator watch party” in one popped jump.
Also: Alysa Liu skating team event tomorrow is a headline moment on its own — she’s named as the U.S. women’s short program rep. (U.S. Figure Skating)
3) The Olympics are in Milan — and the vibes are real
The U.S. women’s group includes skaters with meaningful ties to the location, and the emotional charge of an Italy Games is very much part of this Olympics’ skating narrative. (TIME)
Your viewing checklist (so you know what you’re looking at)
If you want to feel like you “get” figure skating instantly, watch for these three things:
Jump quality (not just landing, but flow out of the landing)
Speed + control (skaters who keep speed through steps look effortless — that’s the point)
Mistake containment (champions don’t skate perfectly; they recover quickly and stay composed)
Quick FAQ
Do I need to watch live at 4 a.m.?
No — if you can’t, just catch replays later. You’ll still want to avoid spoilers if you love drama. (NBC Olympics)
Where do I find the “full schedule” for later events?
NBC Olympics provides full listings (TV + streaming) and segment schedule pages you can toggle through. (NBC Los Angeles)
When does figure skating run through?
NBC’s guide lists figure skating competition running Feb. 6–Feb. 19, starting with the team event Feb. 6–8. (NBC Los Angeles)
Bottom line
Tomorrow’s team event isn’t an appetizer — it’s the opening argument for who’s ready in Milano Cortina.
Set the alarm if you can. Pull up replays if you can’t. Either way, the skating starts now.