The 2026 Winter Olympics bring the world back to Italy for a two-week celebration of ice, snow, style and sport across Milan and the Dolomites, with competitions scheduled from 6 to 22 February and a sweeping, multi‑region layout that showcases both urban flair and alpine heritage.

At A Glance: The Essentials

• Official name: Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
• Dates: 6 to 22 February 2026, with some events beginning 4 February; the Paralympic Winter Games run from 6 to 15 March.
• Hosts and model: Co‑hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with events distributed across clusters in Valtellina and Val di Fiemme, plus ceremonies in Milan and Verona.
• Opening Ceremony: San Siro in Milan on 6 February, with simultaneous moments in other Olympic territories.
• Closing Ceremony: Verona Arena on 22 February.
• New sport: Ski mountaineering debuts with men’s and women’s sprints and a mixed relay.
• Mascots: Tina and Milo, sibling stoats, joined by six snowdrop sidekicks known as The Flo.

Why These Games Feel Different

Milano Cortina has leaned hard into reuse and regional identity. Organizers say a very high share of competition venues are existing or temporary, in line with the IOC’s sustainability agenda, with official materials citing an 85 percent reuse rate and some reports describing even higher pre‑existing use by the time venues opened. This approach reduces new construction, spreads visitors across established sites and underlines a practical, climate‑aware approach to winter sport hosting.

You will notice the difference in the map. Instead of a single Olympic Park, ice events cluster around Milan while snow and sliding events radiate out to Bormio, Livigno, Val di Fiemme, Antholz and Cortina. It is a widespread footprint, and travel between mountain clusters can take several hours, but it lets Italy show off world class slopes without overbuilding.

The Ceremonies: Modern Spectacle in Historic Arenas

Opening night at San Siro. The 100‑year‑old stadium, home to AC Milan and Inter, hosts an evening conceived around the theme of harmony, with a main show in Milan and connected moments in mountain sites so athletes based far from the city can still participate. The ceremony begins Friday 6 February local time, with live global broadcasts and a primetime encore in major markets. Expect a star lineup with international and Italian artists.

The farewell in Verona. The Roman‑era Verona Arena closes the Games on 22 February, delivering one of the most atmospheric settings ever used for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Where Sports Will Be

Milano Cortina follows a clear logic: rinks in the city, mountains for everything else.

• Milan: Figure skating and short track at the Mediolanum Forum; speed skating and ice hockey in exhibition‑hall conversions and new arenas; Opening Ceremony at San Siro.
• Cortina d’Ampezzo: Women’s Alpine, curling and all sliding sports at the rebuilt Cortina Sliding Centre on the historic Eugenio Monti site, now approved following homologation tests and praised by athletes.
• Valtellina: Bormio handles men’s Alpine and will also host ski mountaineering; Livigno stages freestyle and snowboarding.
• Val di Fiemme: Predazzo for ski jumping and Nordic combined; Tesero for cross‑country.
• Antholz/Anterselva: Biathlon in a venue with deep World Cup pedigree.

This spread is the point. It is not the shortest commute, but it is authentic to Italian winter sport. If you are attending, build buffer time into any cross‑cluster plans.

What is New on the Program?

Ski mountaineering arrives as the only new sport, and it is tailor‑made for Italy’s alpine culture. Races combine skins‑on ascents, a quick on‑foot section where athletes snap out of bindings and run, then a downhill charge through gates. Look for two sprint titles and a mixed relay.

Beyond SkiMo, the Games add or expand events that push parity and team balance across the programme. Expect more mixed‑gender formats and expanded women’s events in several disciplines.

The Story Behind Tina and Milo

Meet the mascots you will see on signs, screens and plush toys everywhere. Tina represents the Olympics and Milo the Paralympics. They are stoat siblings named after Cortina and Milano, chosen through a national student competition and unveiled at the Sanremo Music Festival. The backstory resonates: stoats change fur with the seasons, mirroring the dual city identity of Milano Cortina, and Milo’s limb difference aligns with the inclusive spirit of the Paralympic Movement. They are joined by The Flo, six playful snowdrops.

Tickets And On‑The‑Ground Tips

How to buy. Tickets are sold exclusively through the official platform and managed via the official app. All tickets are digital and nominative, with secure QR codes appearing in the app before each session. You can also transfer or resell within the app if plans change.

Promos and pricing. Organisers positioned prices to keep many sessions accessible, with early communications noting low entry points across most sports and premium pricing for the ceremonies. Always verify availability and promos such as small‑group or territory‑specific offers on the official site.

Attending the Opening Ceremony. San Siro entry is digital only; arrive early to clear checks and use Milan’s metro or tram as stadium parking will be restricted.

Sustainability And Legacy, Beyond the Slogans

Sustainability here is not a one‑liner. It is embedded in venue choice, temporary build strategy, energy sources and mobility planning.

• High reuse share of venues, limiting new builds to what is essential and leaning on hallmark Italian sites that already host World Cups.
• Clean energy focus at venues, biofuel for generators and grooming equipment, and a transport plan prioritizing trains and shuttles.
• Village planning for afterlife, including student and affordable housing conversion in Milan and temporary or hotel‑based accommodation in mountain hubs.
• Accessibility upgrades align with Paralympic goals, from venue retrofits to city routes and digital services.

The contested piece of the plan was the Cortina Sliding Centre. After debate over cost and legacy, construction sprinted from early 2024 and passed key tests in spring 2025. Today the track is homologated, scheduled for Olympic competition and future events, and applauded by sliders who tried it.

How To Watch Around the World

In the United States, NBCUniversal carries full rights through 2036. Every event streams live on Peacock, with daytime live windows on NBC and nightly primetime shows. USA Network and CNBC carry additional coverage.

Across Europe, Warner Bros. Discovery and EBU members share coverage. In Italy, RAI provides free‑to‑air rights while Eurosport and discovery+ offer deep coverage.

If you are reading in India, look for rights updates via local broadcasters and major streaming platforms as markets confirm their plans; coverage lists are still being consolidated country by country in the region. Always check your national broadcaster or the Olympics.com listings as the Games open.

Qualification and Competition Basics

Every sport follows an IF‑approved pathway under IOC qualification principles. The IOC validated all Milano Cortina qualification systems and the session‑level competition schedule ahead of the Games to ensure clarity for teams and broadcasters.

For skiing and snowboarding disciplines, FIS publishes detailed quota lists and eligibility rules, including specific qualifying times or points by event. If you want the granular detail on quotas, start with FIS’s dedicated 2026 hub.

Speed skating fans will find the ISU’s qualifying time standards and World Cup events that feed Olympic entry. These documents are your reference if you track selection storylines.

Sports and Storylines to Watch

• Alpine skiing: Iconic courses in Bormio and Cortina frame the sport’s biggest stage. Expect packed crowds for downhill and slalom showdowns, with weather windows carefully managed across two alpine regions.
• Figure skating: Milan’s arena setup puts one of Italy’s favorite spectacles near the city center. With global stars in peak form and an arena known for atmosphere, the gala night will sell out first.
• Sliding sports: After all the build‑up, the Cortina track becomes a focal point. Men’s and women’s skeleton, women’s monobob, two‑man, two‑woman and four‑man bobsleigh decide medals late in the second week.
• Biathlon and Nordic: Antholz and Val di Fiemme are mainstays on the World Cup calendar, so expect tight races and partisan crowds.
• Ski mountaineering: Watch the sprints for pure adrenaline. Heats, elbows and transitions make it easy to follow even if you are new to the sport. The mixed relay delivers late‑Games drama.

Fresh Perspective: How The Dispersed Model Changes the Fan Experience

A multi‑cluster Games is not just a map choice. It changes how you watch, plan and remember.

• You get authenticity over convenience. Urban fans in Milan can sample hockey and figure skating with the energy of a design capital outside the arena. Mountain fans in Cortina and Livigno get venues embedded in real ski culture.
• Broadcast becomes your best friend. With events spread out, whip‑around shows and multi‑view streams matter even more. Peacock’s full‑event coverage in the U.S. and discovery+/Eurosport layers in Europe let you stitch the Games into a coherent day wherever you are.
• Travel requires intention. Crossing from Cortina to Livigno is a full day. If you plan to chase events, build itineraries around clusters rather than chasing single finals hundreds of kilometers apart. Organisers and guides have been candid about those travel times.

The payoff is a Games that feel rooted. When a cross‑country medal happens in Tesero, you feel the valley’s tradition. When a short track final kicks off in Assago, it feels like a true Milan night.

Practical Tips for Visitors

• Book by cluster. Choose either Milan‑centric days or a mountain base and avoid back‑and‑forth travel.
• Use official transport. Many venues, especially Cortina, operate shuttle systems and park‑and‑ride. Check spectator guides in the ticketing portal.
• Arrive early for ceremonies. Digital tickets, security and large crowds make early arrival essential.
• Follow the official app and schedule. Weather can shift alpine timetables. The official schedule page and apps push real time updates.

Final Word

Milano Cortina 2026 is a confident return to form for the Winter Olympics. It trades a single mega‑park for a network of proven venues and a culture‑rich canvas from Milan’s fashion districts to Cortina’s Dolomite peaks. The sport will be the story, as always. But the way these Games knit together city and mountain is what will stick with you after the flame goes out in Verona.

FAQs

Who will host the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be co‑hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in northern Italy, marking the first time the Winter Games are officially shared by two cities.

When do competitions actually start?

Preliminary events begin 4 February, two days before the Opening Ceremony. Curling is often first out of the blocks.

What is the easiest way to watch in the U.S.?

Peacock streams every event live. NBC carries marquee daytime action with a primetime show each night. USA Network and CNBC add volume.

What makes SkiMo worth my time?

Short, tactical races. Clear first‑to‑the‑line drama. Transitions that can win or lose medals in seconds. It is the perfect late‑Games shot of adrenaline.

Is the Cortina bobsleigh track really ready?

Yes. After intense scrutiny, the track passed pre‑homologation in March 2025 and has hosted test runs. International federations reported successful trials and set Olympic event slots.

How are tickets delivered?

All tickets are digital only, managed in the official Tickets MilanoCortina2026 app. You can transfer or resell within the app and the scannable code appears shortly before your event.