Winter Olympics 2026 in Milano-Cortina: Key Dates, New Sports, and How to Watch Live

Anticipation for the Winter Olympics 2026 is heating up as Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo prepare to welcome the world from 6 to 22 February 2026, with the opening ceremony set for the iconic San Siro Stadium and the closing spectacle planned at Verona Arena. The XXV Olympic Winter Games will feature more than 2,900 athletes representing 93 nations and battling for glory across 16 sports, from alpine skiing in the Dolomites to ice hockey in the heart of Milan. Competition actually begins on 4 February with preliminary curling and ice-hockey action before the formal lighting of the cauldron. Key venues and highlights • Alpine events: Breathtaking slopes of Cortina’s Tofane and Bormio’s Stelvio. • Sliding sports: A newly upgraded track in Cortina revives the historic 1956 venue. • Speed skating: A purpose-built oval in Milan offers blazing-fast ice and city-center convenience. • Snowboarding & freestyle: The high-energy action unfolds in Livigno, a freeride paradise. Sustainability is central to Milan-Cortina 2026, with 93 % of competitions using existing or temporary venues, lowering the environmental footprint while celebrating Italy’s winter-sports heritage. Ticket demand is already surging as organizers finalize hospitality packages and release phased sales windows. Fans are urged to register early on the official ticketing platform for real-time alerts and to secure seats for marquee events such as figure-skating finals and the men’s ice-hockey gold-medal game. Storylines to watch • Italian heroes: Alpine star Sofia Goggia targets downhill gold on home snow, while snowboarder Michela Moioli eyes redemption after Beijing. • Next-gen rivals: U.S. phenom Jordan Stolz challenges Europe’s speed-skating giants; China’s Eileen Gu returns for a freestyle triple crown bid. • Climate tech: New artificial-snow systems promise optimal course quality with reduced water and energy use, a first for the Winter Games. With an alpine backdrop worthy of cinema, record athlete participation, and fan-centric planning spanning Lombardy to the Veneto, the Winter Olympics 2026 promise an unforgettable blend of sport, culture, and Italian flair. Keep this page bookmarked for evolving schedules, ticket releases, and athlete-to-watch updates as the countdown to Milan–Cortina continues.