2026 Olympics: Host Country and Key Event Details

2026 Olympics: Host Country and Key Event Details

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games, are being hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This marks the fourth time Italy has staged the Winter Olympics (after Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956, Rome 1960 for Summer, and Turin 2006). The Games are scheduled from 6 February to 22 February 2026, with the opening ceremony taking place in Milan on 6 February and the closing ceremony in Cortina d'Ampezzo on 22 February. The event will feature 116 medal events across 8 sports and 16 disciplines, involving approximately 2,900 athletes from over 90 National Olympic Committees.

Milan–Cortina 2026 is unique for its dual-host model: Milan serves as the main hub for ice sports, while Cortina d'Ampezzo and the surrounding Dolomite valleys host snow sports. The Games are being marketed under the slogan “Fino all’alba” (“Until Dawn”), symbolising the perseverance and light that athletes bring even in the darkest winter conditions.

Host Cities and Venues Overview

The Milan–Cortina bid was selected over Stockholm–Åre (Sweden) by the IOC in June 2019. The organising committee has distributed venues across three main clusters:

• Milan Cluster (ice sports):
  • Mediolanum Forum (Ice Hockey – main arena)
  • PalaItalia Santa Giulia (new 15,000-seat arena for Ice Hockey finals)
  • Milano Cortina Olympic Village (athlete accommodation in Milan)
  • Short Track & Figure Skating at existing Milan arenas
• Cortina d'Ampezzo Cluster (Alpine skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboarding, freestyle skiing):
  • Cortina Sliding Centre (Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton) – renovated historic venue
  • Tofane slopes (Alpine skiing – women’s events)
  • Faloria–Cristallo slopes (Alpine skiing – men’s events)
  • Olympic Ice Stadium Cortina (Figure Skating & Short Track)
• Valtellina & Val di Fiemme Cluster (speed skating, biathlon, cross-country skiing):
  • Stelvio Track (Bormio – Alpine skiing men’s downhill)
  • Tesero Speed Skating Oval (new venue)
  • Lago di Tesero Cross-Country Stadium
  • Predazzo Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Centre

The multi-region format has drawn criticism for high logistical costs and carbon footprint, but organisers claim 90 % of venues are existing or renovated facilities, with only three major new builds.

Key Sports and Event Highlights

The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature 116 medal events, an increase of 7 from Beijing 2022. New events include:

• Men’s and women’s ski mountaineering (sprint & individual races)
• Mixed team snowboard cross
• Mixed team ski jumping
• Mixed relay biathlon single
• Women’s 1,500 m short-track relay

Flagship events to watch:

• Alpine Skiing: Men’s downhill on the legendary Stelvio track in Bormio (11 February)
• Figure Skating: Team event (new format) and individual competitions at Milan’s PalaItalia
• Biathlon: Pursuit and mass-start races in Antholz-Anterselva
• Snowboard: Big Air finals at Cortina’s newly renovated Faloria jump
• Ice Hockey: Men’s final (22 February) at Mediolanum Forum, Milan

The opening ceremony on 6 February will be held at Milan’s San Siro Stadium (capacity 75,000), while the closing ceremony returns to Cortina’s Olympic Ice Stadium.

Athletes to Watch in 2026

Several stars are expected to dominate headlines:

• Norway: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (cross-country skiing) aims for sixth Olympic gold; Tiril Eckhoff and Marte Olsbu Røiseland lead biathlon.
• United States: Mikaela Shiffrin targets Alpine skiing history; Chloe Kim defends snowboard halfpipe title.
• Italy: Sofia Goggia (Alpine skiing downhill) and Arianna Fontana (short track) are home favourites.
• Canada: Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais in speed skating; Max Parrot (snowboard slopestyle).
• Germany: Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi in bobsleigh; Francesco Friedrich in four-man bobsleigh.
• Sweden: Nils van der Poel (speed skating) seeks to defend 5,000 m and 10,000 m titles.
• Switzerland: Marco Odermatt (Alpine skiing giant slalom) is the man to beat.

Medal Table Predictions & Historical Context

Norway remains the overwhelming favourite to top the medal table for the fourth consecutive Winter Games. Early projections (pre-Games):

1. Norway: 20–24 medals (8–11 gold)
2. Germany: 18–22 medals (6–9 gold)
3. United States: 16–20 medals (5–8 gold)
4. Canada: 14–18 medals (4–7 gold)
5. Italy: 12–16 medals (3–6 gold)

Italy hopes to finish in the top 5 for the first time since Turin 2006. China, which led the medal table in Beijing 2022, is expected to drop significantly due to reduced home advantage and fewer events.

Legacy & Sustainability Focus

Milan–Cortina 2026 has placed strong emphasis on sustainability:

• 90 % of venues are existing or renovated (only three new permanent venues)
• 100 % renewable energy target for Olympic venues
• Zero single-use plastic policy
• Carbon-neutral target through offsets and green-energy procurement
• Legacy plan includes repurposing the Olympic Village in Milan as affordable housing

The Games will also promote gender parity: 51 % of athletes are expected to be women (up from 45 % in Beijing 2022).

Global Broadcast & Viewership Expectations

The Games will be broadcast in over 200 territories. Key broadcasters include:

• RAI (Italy) – host broadcaster
• NBCUniversal (United States)
• CBC/Radio-Canada (Canada)
• Eurosport / Discovery (Europe)
• Sony Pictures Networks (India)
• beIN Sports (Middle East)

Organisers project a global cumulative audience of 2.5–3 billion viewers across linear TV, streaming and digital platforms.

Conclusion

The Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics promise a visually stunning showcase of winter sport against the backdrop of the Italian Alps and Milan’s urban elegance. With 116 medal events, new disciplines, strong sustainability credentials and a packed field of returning champions and rising stars, the Games are set to deliver unforgettable sporting drama.

From Mikaela Shiffrin’s quest for Alpine skiing immortality to Norway’s pursuit of another dominant performance, and from home-crowd energy in Cortina to the global spectacle in Milan, the XXV Olympic Winter Games are poised to be one of the most compelling editions in recent history.