Ice Shows

Two kinds of ice show

Touring ice shows in North America come in two main forms, and the one you choose decides the audience, the calendar and the best seats. Character shows, led by Disney on Ice, cast figure skaters as film characters and are built for young children. Skating showcases, led by Stars on Ice, put a small cast of Olympic and world-level skaters on the ice in solo and ensemble numbers, with no cartoon characters, for an audience of skating fans.

Both play indoor arenas, usually the same buildings that host hockey and basketball, and both tour: a production arrives, plays one to several days, and moves on. That short stay is the main thing to plan around, because each city gets only a few performances.

Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice is produced by Feld Entertainment under an agreement with Disney. Feld bought the Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice in 1979, launched Walt Disney's World on Ice in 1981, and was running five touring shows at once by 1988. The name changed to Disney on Ice in late 1997. Several separate productions tour at the same time, each with its own cast and character lineup; as of fall 2026 the official Disney On Ice site lists five titles, including Find Your Hero, Magic in the Stars and Magic of Family.

Because a production often stays several days, you can usually choose between weekday and weekend shows. Weekend mornings and early afternoons suit toddlers and sell first; weekday evenings are calmer. The Disney on Ice guide covers running time, age guidance and the premium pre-show package in detail.

Stars on Ice

Stars on Ice was founded in 1986 by figure skater Scott Hamilton and Bob Kain, an executive at IMG, which produces the tour. It added a Canadian tour in 1990, made its first appearance at Madison Square Garden on February 19, 1993, and has toured the United States, Canada, Japan and China. Past casts include Kristi Yamaguchi, Katarina Witt, Kurt Browning, Evan Lysacek and Nathan Chen.

The tour runs in spring, after the competitive season. The 2026 US tour ran from April 16 to May 31 across 26 cities, with a cast that included Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito; its Anaheim stop was at Honda Center on May 16. A separate Canadian tour played 13 cities from April 23 to May 16, 2026. As of fall 2026, the Stars on Ice site points to a 2027 tour. Casts change every year; after a Winter Olympics, as in 2026, the new medalists headline the spring tour and draw extra demand.

Holiday ice shows and a little history

The touring ice show is an American invention. Ice Capades opened in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 1940 and toured for about five decades before shutting down in 1997. Holiday on Ice began in Toledo, Ohio, in December 1942; it is now based in Bremen, Germany, owned by a subsidiary of CTS Eventim, and tours Europe rather than the United States.

In the US, the holiday window belongs mostly to family shows. Disney on Ice runs that land during school winter break draw extra demand, and the days between Christmas and New Year's Day tend to sell before weekday dates earlier in December. For other seasonal family events, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, see Family-Friendly Shows.

How the arena is set up

For an ice show, the arena floor is a rink, much as it is for a hockey game. The skaters use the entire surface, and the big ensemble numbers are designed as patterns meant to be read from a slight height.

• The stage end: the set, the skaters' entrance and often a video screen sit at one end of the rink. Sections behind or beside the set can be closed or have partial views.
• Rinkside seats: at many stops a few rows of chairs sit on the floor at the edge of the ice, often sold as premium seats.
• The lower bowl: the 100-level sections (the ring of seats closest to the floor) wrap the rink, as for hockey.
• The upper bowl: the 200- or 300-level sections, depending on the building.

Check the event's seat map, not the arena's hockey map, because the stage end changes which sections are on sale.

Where to sit for an ice show

• Best overall: center-ice sections of the lower bowl along the long sides, in the middle rows. You see the full rink, the formations and the skaters' expressions.
• Rinkside: exciting for children, who may get a wave from a character, but the low angle hides skaters on the far side and flattens group patterns. For Stars on Ice, where jumps and spins are the point, a raised seat shows more.
• Opposite end from the stage: a head-on view of the set and entrances, at a distance. A decent value choice.
• Corners near the stage end: often the weakest seats, with part of the action hidden behind the set.
• Upper bowl, center: the value choice. Formations read well, but young children may struggle to follow small figures, so bring binoculars.

Seats near the ice are cold. Bring a layer for everyone, even in spring. Every Good Seats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.

First-timer tips

• Confirm the production. With several Disney on Ice titles touring, the characters in your city depend on which show is booked.
• Plan for merchandise and snacks. Character shows sell souvenirs at the show, so set expectations before you arrive.
• Check the arena's bag policy. Ice shows follow the building's rules, and many arenas restrict bag size. Check the venue's current policy before you go.
• Arrive early for parking and security lines, which are slower at family shows with strollers.
• Watch for sensory effects. Disney on Ice uses strobe lights, fog and confetti.

Sources

• Disney On Ice, official site
• Disney on Ice, Wikipedia
• Stars on Ice, Wikipedia
• Stars on Ice, official site
• Northern Virginia Magazine, Stars on Ice 2026 tour (February 16, 2026)
• Honda Center, Stars on Ice 2026
• TO DO Canada, Stars on Ice 2026 Canadian tour schedule
• Holiday on Ice, Wikipedia
• Ice Capades, Wikipedia