The qualification process for the nine short-track speed skating events at the 2026 Winter Olympics is based on performance of skaters at designated 2025-26 ISU Short Track World Tour events. Results at these events determine the Special Olympic Qualification Classifications rankings that are used for quota allocation to National Olympic Committees (NOC).
There will be nine short-track speed skating events at the 2026 Winter Olympics: three individual events each for men and women, one team event each for men and women, and one event for mixed teams. Maximum quota places are established per event, as follows: [1]
| Maximum quota places per event | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | |
| Individual events | ||
| 500 meter | 32 | 32 |
| 1000 meter | 32 | 32 |
| 1500 meter | 36 | 36 |
| Team events | ||
| 5000 meter relay | 8 | |
| 3000 meter relay | 8 | |
| 2000 meter relay | 12 | |
The quota places will be assigned to National Olympic Committees following the rankings of the Special Olympic Qualification Classifications.
The following four stages of the 2025-26 ISU Short Track World Tour count towards the Special Olympic Qualification Classifications.
For each Olympic event, NOCs or teams are ranked by total points scored in their best three results. The total for individual events is achieved by adding an NOCs (not athlete's) best result in each stage for its first qualifier, then adding their 2nd best result in each stage for their second qualifier, then adding their 3rd best result in each stage for their third qualifier.
The quota places are assigned to NOC´s in order of the SOQC rankings, taking into account the following rules: