The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games and commonly branded as Milano Cortina 2026, is an international multi-sport winter event taking place in northern Italy from 6 February to 22 February 2026 with some competitions beginning as early as 4 February 2026. This edition marks a milestone in Olympic history — the first Winter Olympics co-hosted by two cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, under a unified organisational framework. 

Host Selection and Significance

Italy secured the Games following a successful joint bid by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo at the 134th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in June 2019, defeating a competing bid from Stockholm–Åre (Sweden). 

Milano Cortina 2026 represents the third Winter Olympics in Italy — following Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006 — and marks a renewed celebration of winter sport in a region long intertwined with alpine traditions and sporting heritage.

The official motto of the Games is “IT’s Your Vibe”, reflecting a blend of Italian cultural energy, local identity and global sporting spirit.

Dates and Ceremonies

• Official Dates: 6 February 2026 to 22 February 2026
• Opening Ceremony: 6 February 2026 at San Siro (Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium) in Milan, with performances celebrating Italian art and culture and featuring global artists.
• Closing Ceremony: 22 February 2026 at the Verona Arena, a historic Roman amphitheatre — the first Olympic closing ceremony held at a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The opening ceremony celebrates unity and international cooperation, while the closing ceremony traditionally honours athletes, volunteers and the Olympic spirit.

Participation and Scope

The 2026 Winter Olympics is expected to be one of the most expansive in Winter Games history:

• Participating Nations: ~92 countries with representation under their national flags.
• Athletes: Around 2,900 competitors from around the world.
• Sports Disciplines: 16 winter sports across eight major categories.
• Medal Events: 116 medal events spread across ice and snow disciplines.

The Games are anticipated to be the most geographically spread-out Winter Olympics ever staged, with competition venues spanning multiple regions of northern Italy — from metropolitan Milan to the alpine slopes of the Dolomites and valleys of Lombardy and Veneto.

Competition Venues and Sports

Milan:

• San Siro Stadium: Host of the Opening Ceremony.
• Milano Ice Skating Arena: Figure skating and short-track speed skating.
• Milano Ice Park / Speed Skating Stadium: Long-track speed skating and select ice hockey events.
• Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena: Ice hockey and Para ice hockey (future Paralympics).

Cortina d’Ampezzo and Surroundings:

• Tofane Alpine Ski Centre: Women’s Alpine skiing.
• Cortina Sliding Centre: Bobsleigh, skeleton and luge.
• Cortina Para Snowboard Park: Para snowboard events.

Other Alpine Locations:

• Bormio (Stelvio): Men’s Alpine skiing.
• Livigno: Freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
• Val di Fiemme / Predazzo and Tesero: Nordic combined, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon.

This multi-venue approach brings seasonal sports to iconic alpine landscapes while integrating urban and mountain cultural settings.

Sports and Events

The 2026 Winter Olympics features:

• Alpine skiing
• Biathlon
• Bobsleigh
• Cross-country skiing
• Curling
• Figure skating
• Freestyle skiing
• Ice hockey
• Luge
• Nordic combined
• Short track speed skating
• Skeleton
• Ski jumping
• Snowboarding
• Speed skating
• Ski mountaineering — making its Olympic debut at the Winter Games.

A total of 116 Olympic medals are contested, showcasing both traditional and emerging winter sports disciplines.

Historic and Cultural Context

The 2026 Games highlight several historic and cultural facets:

• First co-hosted Winter Olympics by two cities, Milan and Cortina.
• Alpine heritage: Cortina d’Ampezzo previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, reinforcing Italy’s legacy in winter sport.
• Olympic inclusion: The Games continue efforts to expand global representation, with nations such as Benin, Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates making their Winter Olympics debuts.
• Gender balance: Milano Cortina aims for near gender parity with record female participation.

Opening Ceremony and Global Engagement

The Opening Ceremony in Milan at San Siro Stadium will feature artistic performances by international and Italian cultural figures, elaborate choreography, lighting of the Olympic flame and the Parade of Nations. The ceremony emphasizes unity and celebration of diversity, underlining the Olympic values of peace, fair play and cultural exchange.

Medal Design and Symbolism

The official Olympic medals for Milano Cortina 2026 were unveiled in Venice prior to the Games. Produced by Italy’s state mint, they incorporate symbolic inscriptions and designs that celebrate the athlete’s journey and the spirit of competition.

Challenges and Environmental Considerations

While the Games embody global sporting ideals, they have also faced scrutiny over environmental and infrastructural challenges. Critics have highlighted issues related to construction delays and extensive use of artificial snow, prompting broader discussions about sustainability, resource impact and the ecological footprint of large-scale sporting events.

Why Milano Cortina 2026 Matters

Milano Cortina 2026 stands as a major milestone in Winter Olympic history:

• It reinforces Italy’s global role in international sport through heritage, culture and modern event management.
• It expands the global winter sports landscape by introducing new events and drawing nations with emerging winter sport programmes.
• It highlights sustainability, inclusion and gender equality as core principles.

As athletes compete across snow and ice for two weeks of world-class competition, Milano Cortina 2026 represents both a celebration of athletic excellence and a testament to the unifying power of sport in a complex world.

Watch: Opening Ceremony Live