Figure skating exhibition gala wraps up Milano Cortina 2026 event with laughs, tears and the traditional "Sakamoto selfie"

Backflips, kung fu chops, quads, dramatic costume changes, “Macarena” in the stands and even a game of football - the Exhibition Gala on Saturday (21 February) was the perfect wrap to two weeks of beautiful, exciting and often unpredictable figure skating competition at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

The 29 performances of the night were as different as the skaters themselves, some slow and whimsical, others a rock out to Guns N’ Roses and Queen. And the spectators at the Milano Ice Skating Arena were thrilled to come along for the ride.

Italian figure skating legend Carolina Kostner had the honour of opening the two-and-a-half-hour show. The Sochi 2014 bronze medallist and Milano Cortina 2026 ambassador skated out in a diamond-encrusted white dress with the ice as her dance partner.

As Kostner, who turned 39 earlier this month, spun and glided with the agility of a skater half her age, the ice lit up with a kaleidoscope of projections, from ribbons to circles, the stands also lighting up in a colourful light show.

The ice would continue to be a loyal partner for the skaters to come as they took to the ice, as singles, duets, and once a trio, to deliver their final performances on Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic ice.

While there are no winners or losers in a gala, Olympics.com rounded up some of the most memorable skates of the night. Discover our selection from the most dazzling and fun night of the Olympics below.

The masterclass: Why the 2026 Exhibition Gala lineup represents the pinnacle of modern figure skating

The Fifth Event - the art and traditions of the Olympic figure skating exhibition gala

Best comeback: Ilia Malinin

Returning to skate in front of Olympic spectators for the first time since the men’s singles finale, Ilia Malinin was a veritable ball of energy with his quad jumps and signature backflip.

He first skated out with fellow USA team gold medallists for a group number set to a medley of rock songs. The skaters took turns in the spotlight as the songs shuffled through with Malinin taking centre stage during Moonlinght’s "Free Bird" - curiously, the same song that plays whenever USA’s ice hockey team scores a goal at Milano Cortina 2026.

The two-time world champion returned to the ice again nine performances later. Skating to "Fear" by his favourite artist NF, Malinin was magnetic not only with his jumps but also his storytelling, getting visibly emotional in the closing pose as the audience roared their admiration for his skating.

Best "ice in my veins" moment: Niina Petrokina

If there is one lesson to be learned from the Milano Cortina 2026 figure skating gala, it is this: Don’t mess with Niina Petrokina.

The two-time European champion from Estonia was on a warpath in her rendition of Chicago’s "Cell Block Tango", taking down Olympic male skaters one by one, just like the six merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail had taken down their partners.

Her first target was Ilia Malinin, followed by Cha Junhwan, with Tim Dieck the last to fall behind the rink boards.

A red handkerchief, a chair, and a dramatic white spotlight were the only accomplices to Petrokina's icy crimes.

Best costume reveal: Adam Siao Him Fa

Figure skaters are not novices when it comes to making a fashion statement. The figure skating gala was no exception and arguably even more so since, unlike in competition, the skaters were also able to make costume swaps mid-skate.

A night of dramatic costume changes started with Italy's Daniel Grassl tearing off a white shirt to reveal a glittery red number.

Adam Siao Him Fa later executed a similar move, removing his denim shirt for a see-through blue bodice with Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” drawn over his left shoulder.

The ice became his canvas – much as in his competition skates where the French skater told the stories of Italian masters Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo – as Siao Him Fa executed complex spins and a crowd-rousing backflip.

Best comedic timing: Mikhail Shaidorov

Mikhail Shaidorov may have won Kazakhstan’s first-ever gold medal in figure skating, but on Saturday he was a master of kung fu.

Dressed in a stuffed panda costume, Shaidorov executed martial arts moves to the beats of “Kung Fu Fighting” as Georgia's Luka Berulava, dressed in his Mortal Kombat attire from his own exhibition number with Antastasiia Metelkina, and Nika Egadze, dressed as Deadpool, joined him on the ice.

Berulava and Egadze are Shaidorov's best friends in real life, but on the night of the gala all friendship was forgotten as they tried to take the Olympic champion down with some martial chops of their own.

Egadze finally succeeded in knocking Shaidorov on his back while Berulava spun him, holding on to the legs.

In true champion style, Shaidorov eventually managed to shake off his rivals and show off some heroic character traits, jumping, spinning, and cartwheeling despite his bulky costume.

The audience cheers were just part of his reward. As Shaidorov skated to the boards, Jackie Chan appeared, holding up two plush pandas as gifts for the skater. Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, Shaidorov brought his hands to his face and quickened his step to hug the superstar actor.

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