URGENT: Synchronized Skating Championships 2026

It is with regret that we must inform members that the dates provisionally published on the BIS website to hold the BIS Synchronized Skating Championships 2026 have had to be changed.

The new dates, remaining at the National Ice Centre for the event are: Saturday 28th February, Sunday 1st March and Monday 2nd March 2026.

A full timetable will be issued separately to this announcement.

BIS apologises to our members for the significant inconvenience we know this will cause. The reason the dates must be changed is that a booking for a major sporting event has been made with the NIC Nottingham that overlaps with our proposed dates. For significant financial reasons, the NIC Nottingham is not able to justify declining to host that event in favour of giving the ice to our Championship.

BIS must thank Donna Gately and the staff at the NIC for trying to find ways of accommodating our event on the originally scheduled dates, but what could be achieved would have meant a very sub-standard event with too many compromises having to be made. We believe our teams and members deserve the best possible championship we can host. Donna worked very quickly with her team to find alternative dates for us. We fully understand the difficulties the change of dates may cause for many teams, but we hope the members will understand us striving to provide the best possible quality of event for our teams.

Further, where bookings have been made with hotels in Nottingham with whom the NIC have a relationship, Donna and her team will assist in trying to transfer the bookings to the new dates. Please note that not all hotels fall into this category.

As soon as BIS was made aware of this conflict at the NIC Nottingham, all attempts were made to find an alternative solution for those dates, including exploring different venues that could also offer the facilities needed to host a major synchronized skating event. Unfortunately, there was nowhere that could accommodate our needs on those dates. Therefore, it was decided that the best possible alternative, whilst difficult, would be to move the event to the dates listed above.

We are aware that the final day of the Championship overlaps with a number of other BIS events (BIS Cup Series, Adult Open, Beginner-National 2 Open and Interpretive/Exhibition Event) so if teams have any skaters that are entered into these events, please let BIS know immediately and, if possible, we will try to find some accommodation in the schedule.

BIS apologises for all of the inconvenience this may cause, and if teams that have already entered for the Championships find that they can no longer attend and must withdraw, entry fees already paid will be refunded.

We will be holding three virtual calls to discuss the date change and address any concerns and questions with BIS CEO Maggie Still on Tuesday 20th Jan 2-3pm and 3-4pm, and Wednesday 21st Jan 8-9pm - links to join the call will be emailed directly to the contact email address for registered teams as well as our latest list of Synchro coaches. If you would like to attend the call but don't receive this email, please contact olivia.johnstone@iceskating.org.uk

If you won't be able to join us for either of the virtual calls, or have any urgent queries that need to be addressed in the interim, Maggie will be available to take calls from 10am-1pm on Tuesday 20^th January on 07718 526 366, or you can reach her at maggie.still@iceskating.org.uk