2026 Olympics Figure Skating Exhibition Gala: Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu and Team USA Dazzle on NBC

The 2026 Olympics figure skating exhibition gala brought the curtain down on one of the most emotional and exhilarating figure skating chapters in Winter Games history. Held Saturday, February 21, at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in Italy, the Olympic gala was broadcast live on Peacock beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET, with portions airing on NBC starting at 2:55 p.m. ET — giving fans one last unforgettable night of ice.

Where Are the 2026 Olympics Held?

The 2026 Winter Olympics are hosted by Italy, officially branded as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Competition venues are split between Milan and the alpine region of Cortina d'Ampezzo, making it one of the most scenic Games in modern history.

What Is the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala?

The figure skating exhibition gala is one of the sport's most cherished traditions — a non-competitive, no-judges showcase where the world's best skaters perform with total creative freedom. No scores. No pressure. Pure artistry. More than 40 figure skaters who competed at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games took part in the two-and-a-half-hour extravaganza, organized into four distinct acts. Italian 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Carolina Kostner opened the gala, followed by Team USA's team event gold medalists.

Ilia Malinin at the Olympic Gala: Redemption on Ice

The most emotionally charged performance of the Ilia Malinin Olympic gala came from the 21-year-old American phenom himself. Malinin skated to "FEAR" by rapper and singer NF — a selection that resonated deeply given everything he endured during the Games. Entering as the overwhelming gold medal favorite in men's individual figure skating, Malinin posted a brilliant short program but buckled under the pressure in his free skate, scoring a stunning 156.33 — far below his pre-Olympic season averages of 209–238 — and failing to make the podium entirely.

Yet the figure skating gala gave Malinin one final moment to reclaim his joy, landing a spectacular back flip that brought the packed arena to its feet. "The crowd never stopped cheering," Malinin said afterward. "It's honestly why this is a very special sport, because not a lot of sports you have that privilege of not only being an athlete, but you're also an artist."

Earlier in the week, Malinin had appeared on NBC's Today and acknowledged the mental toll of Olympic expectations. "I was not ready to handle that to a full extent," he admitted of the pressure heading into his free skate.

Alysa Liu Closes Out the Gala as Olympic Champion

Gold medalist Alysa Liu saved her moment for last — as tradition dictates, the champions skate final. The 20-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area capped off her stunning comeback with a victory lap across Olympic ice, soaking in the roar of the crowd. Liu had stepped away from skating after the 2022 Beijing Games before mounting a two-year comeback that ended with her winning the first women's figure skating gold medal for an American since Sarah Hughes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Team USA's Historic 2026 Olympic Figure Skating Performance

Team USA finished the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics with a record-breaking 11 gold medals — surpassing the previous Winter Games high of 10 set at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

NBC Figure Skating Coverage: Where to Watch

All NBC Olympics figure skating coverage from Milano Cortina 2026 — including the Olympic exhibition gala — is available to stream live and on-demand on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. Select events, including portions of the gala, aired on NBC. Ilia Malinin is also expected to compete at the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague next month, an event he has won in back-to-back years.