The Music Rules of Figure Skating: Why Skaters Pick Those Songs
From copyright chaos at the 2026 Olympics to the century-old ban on lyrics, here's everything you need to know about how figure skating music actually works
Figure skating has music rules that most casual viewers have no idea about. Think any song will work? Wrong. Skaters operating under ISU rules face restrictions on lyrics, vocals, and even how they can edit and combine songs. And in 2026, the Olympics revealed just how messy those rules can get.
Why Music Matters in Figure Skating
Music is not just background noise in figure skating. It's a core element of the sport. The right song can elevate a program from good to unforgettable. The wrong song can undermine even technical excellence.
Judges score skating to music using specific criteria. Your interpretation of the music, how well your movements match the tempo and mood, and how you connect emotionally with the piece all contribute to your score. That's why skaters spend months, sometimes years, searching for the perfect music.
The Relationship Between Music and Scoring
Music isn't just about listening to something beautiful while a skater performs. The music choice affects:
- Program design - The tempo and structure dictate where you can place jumps and spins
- Artistic interpretation - How well you connect to the music and express it through movement
- Choreography - The music inspires the actual movements and transitions
- Judge perception - Iconic music can enhance your program's impact
Pro Tip
The best skaters don't just skate to music. They skate with the music. Every movement choices builds on the musical structure, creating a cohesive artistic presentation.
The Lyric Rule: A Century-Old Tradition
Here's a wild fact: Figure skating has banned lyrics since around the 1920s. Yes, you read that right. Almost 100 years.
For decades, skaters were absolutely forbidden from using any music with vocals or lyrics. The rule was ironclad. No exceptions.
Why Did This Rule Exist?
The original reasoning was rooted in the idea that lyrics would distract from the skating itself and overpower the visual presentation. The focus should be on the skater's performance, not on following along to words.
This created an interesting challenge: figure skaters had a massive library of music to choose from, but a significant chunk (anything with singing) was off the table.
The Modern Evolution
In recent years, especially as the sport tries to stay relevant and attract younger audiences, the ISU began loosening some restrictions. Starting in 2018, instrumental versions with non-lyrical vocals became allowed in some contexts.
But this is where things get confusing, because the rules differ between levels of competition, event types, and governance bodies.
Key Update
As of 2026, the ISU still restricts lyrics in most competitive events, but there is movement toward more flexibility. The exact rules depend on whether you're skating in a national or international competition, your age group, and the specific event format.
ISU Music Regulations Explained
Let's break down what you actually can and cannot do with music in ISU-governed competitions.
The Basic Rules
For senior competitive skating under ISU rules:
- No intelligible lyrics - You cannot use music with words you can understand in any language
- Instrumental music preferred - Classical, orchestral, and instrumental arrangements are the safest choice
- Vocal-only sections allowed (sometimes) - Some competitions allow brief non-lyrical vocal sections, but this varies
- Spoken word is usually prohibited - Narration or dialogue is generally not allowed
- Music editing is restricted - You cannot artificially cut, paste, or splice music in certain ways
Why These Rules Matter
These restrictions shape the entire music landscape for figure skaters. They've actually driven a whole category of music creation specifically for figure skaters. Composers create original music for skaters because there's demand.
It also means that some skaters' dream songs are completely off-limits, which creates interesting creative challenges.
Vocals, Lyrics, and Spoken Word
This is where the rules get complicated because they're not entirely consistent across all organizations and competition levels.
Operatic Vocals
Opera singing is generally allowed because, technically, while there is singing, most people cannot understand the words in Italian, German, French, or other operatic languages. It's treated as pure sound rather than communication.
However, opera in English is more problematic and often rejected.
Non-Lyrical Vocals
Singing that doesn't contain intelligible words is technically allowed. Think vocal runs, wordless singing, and vocalizations. But again, this is interpreted differently depending on who's judging and which competition it is.
Spoken Word
Most ISU events do not allow any spoken word, narration, or dialogue in music. So you cannot use a program that starts with a dramatic voice-over or spoken introduction.
Copyright Challenges and 2026 Olympics Drama
Music licensing for figure skating is unexpectedly complicated. This exploded into major news at the 2026 Olympics.
The Licensing Issue
Here's the problem: just because a song is released doesn't mean skaters can use it. They need to obtain proper licensing rights from the copyright holders. For major competitions like the Olympics, this requires explicit permission and sometimes hefty fees.
Most skaters use either classical music (which is in the public domain) or they license contemporary music through specific channels. But the process is murky and expensive.
2026 Olympics Controversy
At the 2026 Olympics, several skaters had to make last-minute music changes because licensing couldn't be secured in time. One skater was supposedly planning to use an AI-generated song (which caused an entirely different controversy), and another had to pivot when the rights holder of their chosen song demanded an unexpectedly high licensing fee.
This exposed just how fragile and behind-the-times the music licensing system is for figure skating.
Reality Check
If you're a competitive figure skater, you need to secure music licensing before you invest months in a program. Talk to your coach and federation about the proper channels. Don't assume you can use any song just because it exists on Spotify.
How Skaters Choose Their Music
Starting the Search
Most skaters and coaches start by thinking about the mood and energy of the program. Are you going for elegance? Power? Comedy? Drama? Once that's decided, they search for music that fits those parameters.
- Classical music databases
- Existing skating music libraries
- Commissioned original compositions
- Film and theatrical soundtracks
- Dance and ballet music
Testing and Refinement
Once a skater finds a song they like, the real work begins. Does the tempo work for your technical abilities? Can you place your jumps where the music peaks? Does the pacing allow for meaningful transitions?
Many skaters try several pieces before finding "the one." And then, when a program gets old or when competitive seasons change, the whole process starts again.
| Stage | Timeline | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Song Search | 1-3 weeks | Finding candidates that match program concept |
| Testing | 2-4 weeks | Deciding if the song actually works for skating |
| Choreography | 3-8 weeks | Working with choreographer to design moves to music |
| Program Building | Ongoing | Practicing until it becomes second nature |
Frequently Asked Questions
In most ISU-governed competitions, figure skaters cannot use music with intelligible lyrics. The ban on vocal music and lyrics has been in place since around the 1920s and remains a core rule. However, operatic singing in languages most people don't understand is sometimes allowed, and some non-lyrical vocal sounds are permitted depending on the competition level and organization. For non-competitive skating, there are no restrictions.
The original rule was created because lyrics were thought to distract from the skating performance itself. The focus should be entirely on the skater's artistry and technical skill, not on following along to sung words. This rule has persisted for nearly 100 years, even as the sport has evolved. In recent years, there has been some movement toward relaxing this restriction, but it remains a fundamental rule in most competitive figure skating.
If a figure skater uses music that violates ISU rules, they can receive technical deductions in their scores. The judges may also deduct points for artistic presentation or technical content if the music is deemed non-compliant. In some cases, the skater might be asked to change their music before competing. For major competitions like championships or Olympics, music must be pre-approved to avoid any issues during competition.
Yes, instrumental versions of pop songs are often acceptable for figure skating. Many contemporary pop songs have instrumental arrangements or covers that can be used. The key requirement is that there are no intelligible lyrics. Instrumental versions of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, or other pop artists are commonly used by competitive skaters. The challenge is finding high-quality instrumental versions of songs that also work well structurally for skating.
Skaters typically obtain music licensing through official channels like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the United States, or equivalent organizations in other countries. For major competitions, the governing body or venue often handles master licensing. Many skaters also work with their national federation, which may have blanket licenses for certain music libraries. For original compositions, composers are hired directly. It's a complex process that varies by country and competition level.
At the 2026 Olympics, the music licensing system revealed itself to be inadequate for the modern era. Several skaters had planned programs with music that became unavailable due to copyright disputes, licensing delays, or prohibitive fees. The incident sparked discussion about whether the ISU needs to update its music policies and licensing procedures to prevent similar issues in future competitions. It highlighted a gap between modern digital music availability and outdated competitive systems.
The ISU has not yet issued clear guidelines on AI-generated music for competitive figure skating. This is a rapidly evolving area of both music and sports. Some competitions might accept AI music if it meets the technical requirements (no intelligible lyrics, etc.), while others may prohibit it until clearer rules are established. If you're considering AI-generated music for a program, contact your national federation for guidance on whether it's acceptable in your specific competition.
Recreational skaters who are not competing in ISU-governed events are free to use any music they want, including music with lyrics, spoken word, or any other content. The ISU music rules only apply to competitive figure skating at official ISU events. If you're skating for fun at a public session or in your own practice, there are no restrictions. You can skate to Taylor Swift, opera, pop, rock, or anything else you enjoy.
Classical music and film soundtracks dominate competitive figure skating because they're typically available for licensing and don't run afoul of vocal restrictions. Pieces from composers like Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky are perennial favorites. In recent years, contemporary composers creating original music for skaters have become increasingly popular. Pop song instrumental covers and ballet scores are also common choices at higher competitive levels.
Yes, adult figure skaters who compete in USFS Adult competitions, local club events, or ISU Adult competitions skate to music just like younger competitors do. Music selection for adult competitive programs follows similar principles of matching the skater's strengths, fitting time requirements, and connecting emotionally with judges and audiences. Many adult skaters find choosing music one of the most personally rewarding parts of putting together a program.
1 comment
Would love to recommend my jazz ensemble’s upbeat arrangement of George Michael’s tune “Careless Whisper” for a skating routine. I can truly envision this as the perfect skating exhibition piece! To listen, one can copy and paste this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma3cuxd_Q24 OR just type in: Careless Whisper – Mim Eichmann – youtube.