Everything to Know About the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy

cortina dampezzo, italy april 29 cortina dampezzo, italy april 28 a general view of cortina dampezzo, host city of the 2026 winter olympics on april 29, 2024 in cortina dampezzo, italy photo by claudio villagetty images
Everything to Know About the 2026 Winter OlympicsClaudio Villa - Getty Images

The Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics may be over, but we still have another set of Games to look forward to: the 2026 Winter Olympics. In two years, the Games will travel to Italy, where sports like skiing, skating, and sledding will take place in incredible venues across both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Ahead, everything to know about the next Olympics and Paralympics.


Where will the competitions take place?

The Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are joining forces to host the Games—a big first, as never before in Olympics history have two cities co-hosted the competition. For this reason, the event is being called the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics and Paralympics.

Events will be held at venues across northern Italy, in four main areas: Milan, Valtellina, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme.

“The Italian Olympic Committee selected these two towns at bidding time to highlight the idea of a widespread games encompassing multiple northern Italian regions,” the committee said in a statement to Harper’s Bazaar. “The winter games traditionally include more outdoor venues than the summer games. These venues are in breathtaking mountain regions which makes the games iconic just by the locations where the sport competitions take place.”

Has Italy hosted the Games before?

Many times. While the 2024 Olympics were a first for Paris, the 2026 Olympics will mark the fourth time Italy has hosted the Games. The previous occasions were: the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.

When are the 2026 Winter Olympics?

They will kick off on February 6 and run through February 22.

When are the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

Always held immediately after the Olympics, the Winter Paralympics will run from March 6 through March 15.

What sports will be at the Olympics?

  • Cross-country skiing

  • Ice hockey

  • Freestyle skiing

  • Short track speed skating

  • Figure skating

  • Snowboard

  • Alpine skiing

  • Bobsleigh

  • Skeleton

  • Luge

  • Ski jumping

  • Curling

  • Biathlon

  • Speed skating

  • Nordic combined

  • Ski mountaineering

What can attendees expect?

Apart from incredible sports competitions, guests can expect great food and countless activities. Milano Cortina has partnered with celebrated hospitality agency On Location to ensure both athletes and guests get the most delicious taste of Italy during the Games. “We’ve been working hard to conceive what promises to be the most incredible Winter Games. Together, we share the same vision of bringing hospitality and experiences to the world and introducing the world to Italy!” On Location told Bazaar.

The ticketing platform is already open, so be sure to secure your seats ahead of the Games!

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