2026 Winter Olympics
Milano Cortina 2026: A Short Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 25th Winter Olympics, officially XXV Winter Olympic Games and commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026, will run from February 6 to February 22, 2026. The Games will take place in Italy’s Lombardy and Northeast regions, with two host cities: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Two cities, one Games
- For the first time, the Winter Olympics are co-hosted by two cities. Milan will focus on ice events, while Cortina and nearby valleys will host most of the sliding, snow, and mountain events.
Medals, sports, and athletes
- 93 nations are expected to take part.
- About 2,871 athletes (1,533 men and 1,338 women).
- 116 medal events across 8 sports (16 disciplines).
- Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut.
- New event formats include dual moguls, two-person team formats in several sports, and a move to equal distances for men and women in cross-country skiing.
Venues
- Many venues reuse existing sites around Lombardy and Northeast Italy, including areas used in past Games.
- A new 16,000-seat ice hockey arena is being built in Milan’s Santa Giulia district.
- The opening ceremony will be at Stadio San Siro in Milan; the closing ceremony will be at the Verona Arena.
The torch, the emblem, and the vibe
- The Olympic torch relay began in Greece and traveled through Italy to Milan, with many stops across the country.
- The Games’ emblem was chosen by the public and features the number 26 in a single stroke, symbolizing small gestures and the spirit of sport, solidarity, and sustainability.
- The official motto is “IT’s Your Vibe,” a play on “It’s” and Italy’s abbreviation “IT.”
- The mascots are Tina and Milo, two stoats inspired by the host cities, with a floral companion called “The Flo.”
Who’s competing and how
- Russian and Belarusian athletes compete only as Independent Neutral Athletes (AIN) under federation approval; they do not compete in team events.
- The NHL has agreed to allow its players to participate in hockey at the Olympics for the first time since 2014 (via a break in the regular season).
- The opening ceremony is on February 6, 2026, and the Games run through February 22, 2026, with curling’s mixed doubles starting a couple of days before the opening ceremony.
Costs, politics, and security
- The Games have faced financial and corruption investigations related to sponsorships and construction projects.
- There were discussions about whether to rebuild or adapt old tracks in Cortina for sliding events; a new Cortina Sliding Centre was built, and backup venues were considered.
- Security is a major focus, with no-fly zones over venues and international cooperation to protect athletes and spectators.
Broadcasts and access
- In Italy, rights are handled by RAI (free-to-air) and Warner Bros. Discovery (pay TV and streaming) in Europe.
- The event is designed to be accessible to fans across Europe and around the world.
What to expect
- Nearly half of the athletes are women, reflecting growing gender parity in the Games.
- The event will highlight Italy’s culture, communities, and landscapes while showcasing new sports and updated formats.
- The Games will hand the spotlight to the 2030 host region, the French Alps, during ceremonies and segments.
Milano Cortina 2026 aims to deliver a compact, athlete-focused Games that brings together top winter sports action with Italian hospitality, culture, and innovation.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:41 (CET).