Winter Olympics 2026: Everything You Need to Know About Milano Cortina

The Winter Olympics return to Europe in 2026, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo hosting the XXV Olympic Winter Games from 6–22 February 2026. Known as Milano Cortina 2026, these Games will bring together 3,500 athletes from 93 nations, competing for 116 medals across 16 sports.

This will be the most geographically expansive Winter Olympics ever staged, stretching across two regions and two provinces in Northern Italy — from the city arenas of Milan to the Alpine slopes of Bormio, Livigno, Val di Fiemme, and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Fans can look forward to new Olympic sports like ski mountaineering (SkiMo), the debut of women’s large hill ski jumping, and the arrival of dual moguls in freestyle skiing. Milano Cortina 2026 also marks a milestone in gender equality, with men and women racing equal distances in cross-country skiing and female participation at a record 47%.

👉 Scroll down for details on the venues, sports, athletes, and travel guides, or

Here’s what you NEED TO KNOW about the Winter Olympics 2026 RIGHT NOW

A Historic Olympic Stage

For the first time, the Winter Olympics will be split between two iconic Italian cities:

• Milan – the cosmopolitan cultural hub, hosting ice sports including figure skating.

• Cortina d’Ampezzo – the “Queen of the Dolomites”, returning 70 years after it first staged the 1956 Games.

Events will stretch across two regions (Lombardy and Veneto) and two autonomous provinces (Trento and Bolzano), making this the widest-spread Winter Games in history.

The Opening Ceremony will light up Milan’s San Siro Stadium on 6 February, while the Closing Ceremony moves to the stunning Arena di Verona on 22 February. The Paralympics will begin on 6 March in Verona and end on 15 March in Cortina.

What Makes Milano Cortina 2026 Special?

• New sports debuting: Ski mountaineering (SkiMo) will feature for the first time.

• Big changes in existing events: Women will finally compete in large hill ski jumping, and dual moguls brings a new head-to-head freestyle showdown.

• Equality milestone: For the first time in Olympic history, men and women will race over the same distances in cross-country skiing. These Games will be the most gender-balanced ever, with 47% female participation.

• Focus on sustainability: Milano Cortina aims to reuse existing venues wherever possible, limiting new construction and reducing its environmental footprint.

The Road to February 2026

As the countdown ticks down — from 100 days to go in October 2025 to the opening ceremony in Milan — we’ll be updating this hub with:

• Venue guides for Cortina, Bormio, Livigno, and Val di Fiemme.

• Sport explainers for SkiMo, dual moguls, and women’s large hill ski jumping.

• Athlete profiles, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features.

• Travel inspiration for fans heading to Italy.

Stay With Us on the Journey

From the latest snow forecasts to athlete interviews and insider travel tips, InTheSnow will be following every turn on the road to Milano Cortina 2026.

Bookmark this page, check back often, and join us for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of winter sport.