My 2025-26 skating schedule (so far...)
AKA "you're gonna need a bigger cloud drive..."
As I mentioned in Monday’s introduction post, I’ve been going to Disney on Ice since 2019, but my attendance really ramped up in the 2024-25 season — and I attended non-Disney on Ice skating events for the first time. Between the Disney and non-Disney stuff, I was in person for 23 events in 2024-25, or just slightly less than two per month.
My schedule in 2025-26 is already shaping up to be just as action packed. Here’s an early look at my plans as I know them so far.
July
July 19: Haus of Diamonds Exhibition in Newington, Conn.
This is the four ice dance teams coached by Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov showing off their new programs for 2025-26. I saw this show last month, and I’ll be going back for the encore performance (it’s literally 10 minutes from my house).
August
August 8-10: Cranberry Cup in Boston
This one is still tentative, as I’m waiting to see who’ll be competing. But last year’s field was pretty stacked, at least in women’s singles, and it’s only a two-hour drive for me.
August 14: USFS Summer Sizzler in Boston
Already have my tickets for this one. Excited to see the new programs for all the top skaters.
August 29-30: Disney on Ice in Orlando
This is the opening of the new Disney on Ice show, featuring segments from Inside Out 2, Moana 2 and Zootopia (among others). I’ll be there on opening night and the following morning. It’s the second consecutive year I’ve flown down to Orlando for the debut of the new show.
September
September 1: Legacy on Ice in Philadelphia
I couldn’t go to the original Legacy on Ice show back in March in Washington DC, but there’s another version that’s being performed in Philadelphia, and I already have my ticket. Johnny Weir, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito are headlining the two shows, one at 1pm and one at 6pm (I’ll be at the 6pm show).
September 13: An Evening With Champions in Boston
Shoutout to my Learn To Skate instructor, who told me about this event during my lesson last week. The cast list hasn’t been unveiled yet, but last year’s cast looked great and if this season is anything close to that level, I’ll be very happy.
October
October 25: Disney on Ice in Worcester, Mass.
I can’t believe I’ll go six weeks without a skating event, but the new, still-unnamed Disney on Ice show will finally be making its way to the Northeast at the end of October.
November
Welcome to the month of chaos…
November 1: Disney on Ice in Newark, N.J.
Same show, different week.
November 8: Disney on Ice in Atlantic City, N.J.
Yep, repeat.
November 12: Disney on Ice in Belmont Park, N.Y.
A rare week where DOI has a Wednesday show, so I’m going on Wednesday for reasons you’ll see… right now!
November 13-16: Skate America in Lake Placid, N.Y.
My second ever figure skating competition! I was so excited when the ISU Grand Prix schedule got shuffled for this season, because in its original slot, Skate America would’ve likely landed during the first week of the NBA season, so I wouldn’t have been able to attend. This week works so much better for me. I already have my ticket and my hotel room reserved, and I’ve even got a buddy joining me for the ride from NYC to Lake Placid.
November 22: Disney on Ice in Bridgeport, Conn.
One of my favorite arenas to film in, and only a 45-minute drive from my house.
December
December 20: Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto in Boston
This show is actually doing an 11-day engagement at Agganis Arena at Boston University over Christmas, so I might go see it more than once (I love the extended Frozen segment that’s the entire first act of the show). But at minimum I’ll be there that first Saturday.
December 27: Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party in Providence, R.I.
Another Saturday, another DOI show. I have fond memories of this one from last season, because I saw it on back-to-back days, and for the second show I got to be one of the audience members who held the map!
January
January 3: Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures in Albany, N.Y.
This one is still tentative, but I’ve never gotten to see Road Trip Adventures in person, and Albany is only a two-hour drive from my house. Plus I might be able to convince my sister to make the two-hour drive down from her house to join me.
January 5-11: 2026 U.S. Figure Skating National Championships in St. Louis
The big one! I have an all-event pass, and plan on spending a lot of time at the arena, for both the competition programs and the practices. I am, however, a little annoyed that USFS moved the junior events to an arena 20 minutes outside of St. Louis. I’ll still try to get to as many of them as possible, because there are a lot of skaters on that level that I really enjoy watching.
February
Nothing so far! Yes, I’ve looked into attending the Olympics. The prices are WAY out of my range. A ticket for one session of figure skating in Milan would cost significantly more than my all-event ticket for US nationals, not to mention the cost of actually getting to Milan.
March
March 21: Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto in Springfield, Mass.
This is the venue in which I saw my very first DOI show back in 2019, so it’s always special for me to go there. This is where I saw Mickey’s Search Party on back-to-back days last season. I could see myself doing that again this season. Because I can never get enough of Elsa.
And that’s it for now. I’m sure there will be more events added to this calendar, particularly as I find out about theatre on ice shows (IDI, AIT and ITNY are all close enough for me to drive to). I’ll also probably do something wild like I did with Disney on Ice last season, such as seeing three shows in one day, or driving an irresponsible distance to see three shows in a weekend. Making it a little more challenging is that it doesn’t appear any of the five domestic tours are stopping in Hartford this season.
Additionally, Disney on Ice: Let’s Dance isn’t slated to come anywhere near me, so I’d like to find a way to see that again (that’s the show I drove to Montreal to see in French last season). I’m also very tempted to go to Lexington, Kentucky to see the very last show of the season — though on some level it’d be incredibly weird to have the first event I ever attend at Rupp Arena be a Disney on Ice show and not a Kentucky basketball game.
One thing that I haven’t attended yet is an intercollegiate skating competition, so I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for a convenient one of those. I know a few schools in my area have teams, and I’d like to check out that level of skating in addition to everything else I’m seeing.
Lastly, if there’s an event you think I should be at that’s within a reasonable driving distance of Hartford, Conn., please let me know. I’m always excited to see new skaters or just familiar faces all over again.