Key Takeaways
- The Winter Olympics 2026 are officially named the XXV Olympic Winter Games — hosted in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
- Dates: 6 February – 22 February 2026 — 17 days of competition across the Italian Alps and Milan.
- 116 events across 16 sports are planned, including two new disciplines.
- Norway, USA, Germany, Canada and host nation Italy are expected among the top medal contenders.
For the first time in over 70 years, the Winter Olympics return to Italy. The 2026 edition — hosted across Milan and the legendary Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites — promises to be one of the most scenic and historically rich Winter Games in recent memory. Here's your complete guide to everything you need to know.
Games at a Glance
Milan-Cortina 2026
The last Winter Olympics held in Italy was Turin 2006. Before that, Cortina d'Ampezzo itself hosted the Games in 1956 — making the Dolomites location particularly historic. Italy is one of only 4 countries to have hosted the Winter Olympics 3 times (along with the USA, France, and Switzerland).
Dates and Location
The 2026 Winter Olympics run from 6 February to 22 February 2026 — 17 days of competition.
The Paralympic Games follow from 6 March to 15 March 2026.
Host Venues
Milan-Cortina 2026 is a unique dual-city Games spread across three distinct zones:
Zone 1: Milan
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies — at the iconic San Siro stadium
- Ice Hockey — Mediolanum Forum and a new arena
- Figure Skating & Short Track Speed Skating — PalaItalia Santa Giulia
- Speed Skating — Oval Lingotto-style indoor venue
Zone 2: Cortina d'Ampezzo (Dolomites)
- Alpine Skiing — the legendary Olympia delle Tofane course
- Biathlon, Cross-Country — Antholz-Anterselva
- Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined — Tesero
- Bobsled, Luge, Skeleton — historic Cortina track (rebuilt for 2026)
- Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard — various Dolomite venues
Zone 3: Bormio & Livigno
- Alpine Skiing (speed events) — Stelvio course in Bormio
- Snowboard, Freestyle Skiing (big air/slopestyle) — Livigno
Events and Sports
The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature 116 events across 16 sports:
| Sport | Gold Medals | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine Skiing | 11 | Cortina / Bormio |
| Biathlon | 11 | Antholz-Anterselva |
| Bobsled | 4 | Cortina |
| Cross-Country Skiing | 12 | Tesero |
| Curling | 3 | Various venues |
| Figure Skating | 5 | Milan PalaItalia |
| Freestyle Skiing | 13 | Cortina / Livigno |
| Ice Hockey | 2 | Milan |
| Luge | 4 | Cortina |
| Nordic Combined | 3 | Tesero |
| Short Track Speed Skating | 9 | Milan PalaItalia |
| Skeleton | 2 | Cortina |
| Ski Jumping | 5 | Tesero |
| Snowboard | 11 | Livigno / Cortina |
| Speed Skating | 14 | Milan |
Key Athletes to Watch
Alpine Skiing
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) — Already the greatest alpine skier of all time by wins; pursuing more Olympic medals
- Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) — Defending Olympic overall champion and current world's best all-around skier
- Federica Brignone (Italy) — Home crowd favourite competing on her home mountain of Cortina
Figure Skating
- Ilia Malinin (USA) — "The Quad God" who has been landing the quadruple axel in competition — a jump previously thought impossible
- Shoma Uno (Japan) — Defending Olympic silver medallist
Biathlon
- Quentin Fillon Maillet (France) — Multi-time world champion
- Johannes Bø (Norway) — One of the greatest biathletes ever, seeking more Olympic gold
Speed Skating
- Nils van der Poel (Sweden) — Two-time Olympic champion; announced retirement but the sport watches if he returns
- Irene Schouten (Netherlands) — Mass start and 3000m specialist from the Dutch speed skating powerhouse
Opening Ceremony: San Siro, Milan
The 2026 Opening Ceremony takes place at San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) — one of the world's most iconic football stadiums, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan. This marks the first time in Olympic history that a football stadium of this stature hosts the Winter Games Opening Ceremony. The venue seats over 75,000 and will create a visually spectacular atmosphere.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics 2026
India
- Sports18 and JioCinema — Viacom18 holds Indian broadcast rights for the 2026 Games
- Live streaming on JioCinema app (mobile and smart TV)
- Selected events on Sports18 SD/HD channels
USA
- NBC, Peacock, USA Network — NBCUniversal retains US broadcast rights through 2032
- Peacock streaming will carry most events live and on-demand
UK
- BBC and Eurosport/Discovery+
Global
- The IOC's Olympic Channel (olympicchannel.com) streams select events
- YouTube Olympic channels carry highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the Winter Olympics 2026 being held?
The Games are co-hosted by Milan (opening ceremony, ice sports) and Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites (alpine skiing, sliding events). Additional venues include Bormio (alpine speed events) and Livigno (snowboard/freestyle). The venues span approximately 300km across Northern Italy.
Is India participating in the Winter Olympics 2026?
India has historically sent very small delegations to the Winter Olympics, typically 1–4 athletes competing in cross-country skiing and alpine skiing. India's Winter Olympics participation has been limited due to lack of infrastructure and training facilities for winter sports. For 2026, participation depends on qualifying results — check the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the latest.
Which country has won the most Winter Olympics medals ever?
Norway leads the all-time Winter Olympics medal table with the most gold medals. The USA leads in total medals (gold + silver + bronze combined). Norway's dominance comes from cross-country skiing and biathlon — sports with large numbers of gold medals at every Games.
Are there any new sports at Winter Olympics 2026?
The IOC added new disciplines for 2026 including mixed team events in biathlon relay, additional freestyle skiing disciplines, and potential new snowboard formats. Check the official IOC website (olympic.org) for the confirmed list of new events being contested for the first time at Milan-Cortina.
Conclusion
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are shaping up to be one of the most visually spectacular editions in Games history. The combination of Italy's world-class alpine venues, the glamour of Milan, and the historic significance of returning to Cortina after 70 years makes this a must-watch event for sports fans globally.
Catch the action from 6 to 22 February 2026 on your regional broadcaster. For India, tune in to JioCinema and Sports18 for comprehensive coverage of all events.