If the past few seasons of pairs at US Nationals have been any indication, it could be anyone’s podium this week at the 2026 US Figure Skating Championships. The favorites have established themselves this season and will look to solidify their positions, but as many as seven pairs could find themselves in the top four, and it will all just depend on how well they can hit their elements—and for pairs, it often comes down to those side-by-side jumps. The two Olympic spots and three World spots this week will be topsy-turvy, especially when you bring in citizenship uncertainty for the Olympics.
US Championships predictions
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GOLD Alisa Efimova/Misha Mitrofanov - The defending champions have taken their momentum from last year’s win and translated it to some great skating (and great results)—with a sixth place finish at Worlds last season and a career-best 200+ performance at Finlandia Trophy just six weeks ago. As publish time, they are still holding out the slim hopes that Efimova will receive her US citizenship this week, but even if not, a second national title and a Worlds spot are on the line for them this week as they have established themselves as the top US pair so far this season. No pair has won back-to-back titles since 2014.
SILVER Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea - After injuries in the off-season and a slow start in the fall, the 2024 US champs have locked back in and took two bronze medals on the Grand Prix. They come into Nationals this year as something of underdogs to Efimova/Mitrofanov, but have also been closing the gap. The throws will be crucial for Kam/O’Shea in their quest for a second title.
BRONZE Audrey Shin/Balazs Nagy - After a slow start to their season, they completely changed their short program in November and got some much-needed momentum going into Nationals. Of the top teams here, they are the ones with the least experience, and that’s shown up in some of their competitions this season. If they can capitalize on their momentum from the last event at Golden Spin, that second Olympic spot is within reach.
4. Emily Chan/Spencer Howe - Top five at worlds at the start of this Olympic cycle, there was a lot to like about their trajectory at that point, and they have so many of the intrinsics a great pair. But major surgery for Howe’s shoulder meant that they needed to almost start from scratch. And they are finally healthy again this season—but will they be able to get past their consistency problems, especially on their side-by-sides?
5. Katie McBeath/Daniil Parkman - The reigning silver medalists had a very strong start to their season, but their last competition was less than ideal for them. Given Parkman’s citizenship ineligibility for the Olympics, it will be a fight for a spot on the World team for them this season.
6. Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez - Another team having to come back from major surgery, Plazas/Fernandez made the World team two seasons ago, and they are looking to show that they are back after withdrawing from all of last season.
7. Chelsea Liu/Ryan Bedard - The newest pair here, Liu/Bedard just teamed up for this season, and they’ve made a splash in their competitive debuts. They are outsiders for the top five.
8. Olivia Flores/Luke Wang - Injury kept them from having a more ideal start to their first senior season, but they looked a lot stronger at Skate America in November, and they make their senior US Nationals debut this week.
9. Naomi Williams/Lachlan Lewer - They spent the fall season on the Junior Grand Prix, and come into their second Nationals after finishing sixth here last year.
10. Linzy Fitzpatrick/Keyton Bearinger - 11th at Nationals last year, Fitzpatrick/Bearinger are in their fourth Nationals together.