The competition was open to skaters from ISU member nations who were at least 13 but not 19—or 21 for male pair skaters and ice dancers—before July 1, 2015 in their place of birth. National associations selected their entries according to their own criteria but the ISU mandated that their selections achieve a minimum technical elements score (TES) at an international event prior to the Junior Worlds.
The term "Junior" in ISU competition refers to age, not skill level. Skaters may remain age-eligible for Junior Worlds even after competing nationally and internationally at the senior level. At junior events, the ISU requires that all programs conform to junior-specific rules regarding program length, jumping passes, types of elements, etc.
Scores had to be achieved at an ISU-recognized international event in the ongoing or preceding season. SP and FS scores could be attained at different events.
Israel's Daniel Samohin climbed from 9th after the short program to win his country's first World Junior title in figure skating. Nicolas Nadeau, who missed the cut for the free skate in 2015, obtained the silver medal and three spots for Canada in the 2017 men's event. Called up to replace the injured Nathan Chen, Tomoki Hiwatashi was awarded the bronze medal in his first appearance at Junior Worlds.
Youth Olympic and JGP Final champion Polina Tsurskaya withdrew before the short program due to an ankle injury. Short program leader Alisa Fedichkina withdrew before the start of the free skate, also due to an ankle injury.
Japan's Marin Honda ended Russia's five-year streak of World Junior ladies' titles. Despite her teammates' withdrawals, Maria Sotskova was able to retain three spots for Russia by placing in the top two. Wakaba Higuchi of Japan won her second consecutive bronze medal at Junior Worlds.
Anna Dušková / Martin Bidař became the first Czech figure skaters to ever win gold at a World Junior Championships and the first pair skaters from outside China, Russia, or the United States to win the competition since 2000. Russian pairs Anastasia Mishina / Vladislav Mirzoev and Ekaterina Borisova / Dmitry Sopot took silver and bronze, respectively, in their first trip to Junior Worlds.
The United States won both the gold and silver medals. Lorraine McNamara / Quinn Carpenter overtook short program leaders Rachel Parsons / Michael Parsons for the title, finishing ahead by a margin of 0.91. It was the fourth appearance at Junior Worlds for both teams. Russia's Alla Loboda / Pavel Drozd rose from sixth after the short dance to take bronze in their first trip to the event.
^"世界フィギュア/四大陸/世界ジュニア 代表選手" [World Figure Skating/Four Continents/Junior World Figure Skating Representatives.] (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. December 28, 2015. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
^"Sveriges JVM-trupp klar" [Swedish World Junior Championship team] (in Swedish). 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.