As the world turns its attention to the Italian Alps, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are set to deliver an unforgettable event.
These Games, which return to the heart of Europe after 20 years, will blend traditional Italian culture with modern athletic excellence. This guide will give you all the information you need about the venues, athletes, and schedule for the most spread-out Winter Games in history.
Table of Contents
- Key Dates and Schedule
- The Venues: A Nationwide Celebration
- New Sports and Must-Watch Events
- Athletes to Watch
- How to Watch Globally
- Sustainability and Budget.
1.Here is the cleaned-up and formatted version of your 2026 Winter Olympics guide. I’ve removed the unnecessary spaces and organized the information to be as sharp as a fresh ice rink.
1. Key Dates and Schedule
The official countdown is over. The Winter Olympics begin on Friday, February 6, 2026, and will run through February 22, 2026. Although the Opening Ceremony marks the official start, some competitions begin earlier.
- Wednesday, February 4: Early qualifying rounds begin (Curling and Luge).
- Friday, February 6: Grand Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium.
- Saturday, February 7: The first gold medals are awarded.
- Sunday, February 22: Closing Ceremony at the Verona Olympic Arena.
2. The Venues: A Nationwide Celebration
Milan-Cortina 2026 is the most geographically spread-out Winter Games in history, covering more than 22,000 square kilometers across Northern Italy.
| Cluster | Key Events | Main Venue |
| Milan | Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Short Track | San Siro Stadium |
| Cortina | Women’s Alpine Skiing, Curling, Sliding | Tofane Alpine Centre |
| Valtellina | Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, Skimo | Stelvio (Bormio) |
| Val di Fiemme | Ski Jumping, Cross-Country Skiing | Predazzo Stadium |
3. New Sports and Must-Watch Events
This year, the Games feature a new sport: Ski Mountaineering (Skimo). This challenging discipline requires athletes to ski uphill and downhill, often carrying their skis on their backs during steep climbs.
- Ice Sports: Hockey, Curling, Figure Skating, Speed Skating.
- Alpine & Snow: Skiing, Snowboarding, Biathlon, Ski Jumping.
- Sliding: Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton.
- New Addition: Ski Mountaineering (Sprint and Mixed Relay).
4. Athletes to Watch
- Lindsey Vonn (USA): At 41, the alpine legend is back with one final goal: to secure another podium finish.
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA): The “GOAT” of skiing is a strong contender for multiple gold medals.
- Ilia Malinin (USA): Known as the “Quad God,” he is expected to dominate the figure skating rink.
- Sidney Crosby (CAN): Leads the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
- Eileen Gu (CHN): The freestyle sensation is back to defend her titles.
5. How to Watch
- United States: NBC Olympics and Peacock.
- United Kingdom: BBC and Discovery+.
- Canada: CBC Gem and TOU.tv.
- Norway: NRK and HBO Max.
6. Sustainability and Gender Equality
The Games are operating on a budget of 5.2 billion euros. To ensure sustainability, Italy will use 90% existing or temporary venues, minimizing environmental impact.
Mascots: Meet Tina and Milo, sibling stoats. named after Cortina and Milan.
Gender Balance: This will be the most gender-equal Winter Games ever, with female participation reaching 47%.
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