The ISU Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international speed skating competitions, organised annually by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1985–86. Every year during the winter season, a number of competitions on different distances and on different locations are held. Skaters can earn points at each competition, and the skater who has the most points on a given distance at the end of the series is the winner. Initially not very popular with skaters nor spectators, the World Cup has gradually become more and more popular, and this was due to the creation of the World Single Distance Championships. The results of the separate distances in the World Cup ranking are the main qualifying method for the World Single Distance Championships.
The 2011–12 ISU Speed Skating World Cup, officially the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating 2011–2012, was a series of international speed skating competitions which ran the entire season. The season started on 18 November 2011 in Chelyabinsk, Russia, and ended on 11 March 2012 in Berlin, Germany. In total, seven competition weekends were held at six different locations, twelve cups were contested, and 72 races took place.
The ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating is a series of international long track speed skating matches, organised yearly by the International Skating Union. It is the second most important competition for juniors, behind the World Junior Speed Skating Championships. The format is comparable to the ISU Speed Skating World Cup, but only junior skaters are allowed to enter. Starting in the 2016–17 season, a competition for "neo-seniors" was added.
The first competition weekend of the 2015–16 ISU Speed Skating World Cup was held in the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, from Friday, 13 November, until Sunday, 15 November 2015.
The third competition weekend of the 2015–16 ISU Speed Skating World Cup was held in Eisstadion Inzell in Inzell, Germany, from Friday, 4 December, until Sunday, 6 December 2015.
The fourth competition weekend of the 2015–16 ISU Speed Skating World Cup was held in the Thialf arena in Heerenveen, Netherlands, from Friday, 11 December, until Sunday, 13 December 2015.
The 2016–17 ISU Speed Skating World Cup, officially the ISU World Cup Speed Skating 2016–2017, was a series of international speed skating competitions that ran the entire season. The season started on 11 November 2016 in Harbin, China, and ended with the final on 11 March 2017 in Stavanger, Norway.
The 2017 European Speed Skating Championships were held in Heerenveen, Netherlands, from 6 to 8 January 2017. Skaters from 12 countries participated. It was the first time that allround and sprint were held at the same time and venue.
The 2017 World Junior Speed Skating Championships took place from 17 to 19 February 2017 in Helsinki, Finland. They were the 44th World Junior Speed Skating Championships.
The 2018 European Speed Skating Championships were held between 5 and 7 January 2018 at the Kolomna Speed Skating Center in Kolomna, Russia.
The 2019 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships was held between 7 and 10 February 2019 at the Max Aicher Arena in Inzell, Germany.
The 2019 World Junior Speed Skating Championships took place from 15 to 17 February 2019 in Stadio del Ghiaccio, Baselga di Piné, Italy. They were the 46th World Junior Speed Skating Championships.
The 2020 European Speed Skating Championships were held from 10 to 12 January 2020 at the Thialf in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
The 2020 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships were held between February 13 and 16, 2020, at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, United States.
