About the European Speed Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating Championships are an international competition organized by the International Skating Union (ISU). Depending on the year, athletes compete either in individual distances or in all-round and sprint all-round events.
The all-round program features different distances for men and women. In the men's all-round competition, athletes compete in the 500m, 5000m, 1500m, and 10,000m events, while women compete in the 500m, 3000m, 1500m, and 5000m events. In the sprint all-round competition, athletes race the 500m and 1000m distances twice. The winner is determined based on the combined results in the respective events.
European Speed Skating Championships 2027
The 2027 European Speed Skating Championships will take place from January 15 to 17 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. The competition will be held at the Thialf arena. In odd-numbered years, the European Championships feature all-round and sprint all-round events, so athletes will compete for titles in these two disciplines in 2027.
Who Will Participate?
The championships are expected to feature Europe's leading speed skaters. Traditionally strong national teams include the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Italy, Germany, and others.
The final list of participants and official entries are confirmed closer to the competition. At the 2026 European Championships, 121 athletes from 19 countries competed, including representatives of the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and other European nations.
History of the Competition
The first European Speed Skating Championships were held in 1893 in Stockholm, Sweden. Until 1970, only men competed at the championships. Since 1990, the men's and women's competitions have been held as part of the same European Championships.
Under the modern competition calendar, the format alternates depending on the year: odd-numbered years feature all-round and sprint all-round championships, while even-numbered years feature individual distance events. In 2026, athletes competed in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m events, as well as the team pursuit, team sprint, and mass start.
Results of the Last Three Championships
| Year | Venue | Medal Table by Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland | 1st — Netherlands; 2nd — Poland; 3rd — Norway |
| 2025 | Heerenveen, Netherlands | 1st — Netherlands: 3 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze; 2nd — Norway: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze |
| 2024 | Heerenveen, Netherlands | 1st — Netherlands: 10 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze; 2nd — Norway: 2 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze; 3rd — Poland: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze |
In 2026, the championships were held in the individual distance format. Polish skaters won the men's team sprint, Italy took gold in the men's team pursuit, and Norway won the women's 3000m event.
In 2025, the all-round and sprint all-round titles were won by Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong, Sander Eitrem, and Jenning de Boo. The Netherlands finished the championships with nine medals, while Norway won three.
European Speed Skating Championships 2028
The next European Championships after the 2027 edition are scheduled for 2028. Under the current system, odd-numbered years feature all-round events, while even-numbered years are dedicated to individual distance competitions. The exact dates and venue for the 2028 European Championships have not yet been announced.
Keep an eye on the dates of speed skating competitions and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
