Milano Cortina 2026: A Winter Olympics Preview

Italy Prepares to Host the XXV Winter Olympic Games

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Winter Olympic Games and commonly referred to as Milano Cortina 2026, are set to take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026. Competition in selected events will start on February 4, 2026. The games will be hosted across multiple sites in Lombardy and Northeast Italy.

A Historic Games with a New Sport

Milano Cortina 2026 will mark a significant moment in Olympic history with the debut of ski mountaineering as a Winter Olympic event. This addition expands the sporting program to 116 events across 8 sports and 16 disciplines.

Athlete Participation

A total of 2,871 athletes are expected to participate, comprising 1,533 men and 1,338 women, representing 92 nations, including athletes representing AIN (Athletes from Independent Neutrality).

Leadership and Key Ceremonies

The opening ceremony will be held at Stadio San Siro, while the closing ceremony will take place at the Verona Arena. President Sergio Mattarella will officially open the games, and Kirsty Coventry, the IOC president, will close them.

The Olympic cauldron will be lit by Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba in Milan, and Sofia Goggia in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

IT’s Your Vibe

Bid Process and Previous Games

A joint bid from Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo was awarded the 2026 Winter Olympics at the 134th IOC Session on June 24, 2019, surpassing a competing bid from Stockholm and Åre, Sweden.

These games follow the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and will precede the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics.

FAQ

When will the 2026 Winter Olympics take place?

The games will be held from February 6 to February 22, 2026, with some competition beginning on February 4, 2026.

Where will the 2026 Winter Olympics be held?

The games will be hosted in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, across multiple sites in Lombardy and Northeast Italy.

What new sport is being introduced at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Ski mountaineering will make its debut as a Winter Olympic event.