Milano Cortina 2026: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics

Introduction: Why the 2026 winter olympics matter

The 2026 winter olympics in Milano Cortina will bring international winter sport back to Italy and reshape the calendar for athletes and fans. With competition dates set for 6–22 February 2026 and the Paralympic Winter Games scheduled for 6–15 March 2026, the Games are a major milestone for winter sport organisers, host communities and viewers worldwide. The event’s scale and the range of disciplines make it a focal point for national teams finalising preparations and for spectators planning attendance.

Main body: Dates, venues, sports and recent developments

Dates and schedule

The Olympic Winter Games run from 6 to 22 February 2026, with a competition schedule published by organisers but subject to change until the close of the Games. The Paralympic Winter Games follow from 6 to 15 March 2026. Spectators are advised to check official channels for the latest timetable and ticketing information; organisers indicate ticket information and purchasing guidance are available via the “How to Attend the Games” page.

Venues and organisation

Milano Cortina 2026 competitions are organised across multiple venue clusters: the Milan Cluster, the Cortina d’Ampezzo Cluster, the Valtellina Cluster and venues in Verona. These clusters will host events across indoor ice sports and outdoor mountain disciplines, reflecting a dispersed model designed to use existing infrastructure across the region.

Sports programme

The Games will feature 16 different sport disciplines: alpine skiing; biathlon; bobsleigh; cross-country skiing; curling; figure skating; freestyle skiing; ice hockey; luge; Nordic combined; short track speed skating; skeleton; ski jumping; ski mountaineering; snowboard; and speed skating. This programme blends traditional winter events with newer additions such as ski mountaineering.

Recent results and build-up

As part of the lead-up, athletes continue to compete in World Cup and other events. Notably, Giovanni Franzoni recorded his first career win in the 2026 Wengen super-G, a result that will feed into national team selections and athlete momentum heading into Milano Cortina.

Conclusion: Significance and outlook

The 2026 winter olympics will test organisational capacity across multiple host clusters and offer a full programme of 16 sports across February 6–22, 2026. With schedules subject to adjustment and ongoing qualification and World Cup results influencing entries, athletes and fans should monitor official Milano Cortina channels for updates on events, tickets and final timetables. The Games will be a key benchmark for winter sport performance ahead of the Paralympics in March.