Armenian Figure Skaters to Compete at 2026 Olympics to ‘Artsakh’

Photo: ©ISU 

Armenia’s figure skating pair, Karina Akopyan and Nikita Rakhmanin, are preparing to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics to music by composer Ara Gevorgyan, skating to his piece “Artsakh”. Their short program on Feb. 15 has already drawn widespread attention and strong reactions online.

The pair first used this music earlier in competition, and the routine quickly spread across social media. According to Akopyan, the performance reached a huge audience and was reposted widely, turning the program into one of the most recognizable in their career. She explained that skating to “Artsakh” had long been a personal dream, saying that as an Armenian she had always hoped to one day appear at the Olympic Games with that music. When the current season began and they were allowed to choose it, she pushed for the decision even when others were unsure, insisting on using the piece for competition.

For Akopyan, the program carries deep emotional meaning. Although she was born in Moscow and is still learning Armenian, she has spoken about the pride she feels representing Armenia and connecting that identity to her skating. Performing to “Artsakh” was, for her, part of that connection and part of fulfilling a childhood goal linked to skating for her ethnic homeland.

In Milan, the music will again frame their short program as they step onto Olympic ice under Armenia’s flag. The routine is expected to draw attention not only for its technical elements but also for the powerful associations surrounding the composition. It is this same program that helped bring the pair wider recognition ahead of the Games and placed them firmly in the public spotlight.

Their appearance to “Artsakh” will be one of the most symbolic moments of Armenia’s participation in figure skating at the Winter Olympics, adding a cultural and emotional layer to their competition in Milan.

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