The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026, officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games, will be one of the most geographically diverse and innovation-driven Winter Olympics in history. Scheduled from 6 to 22 February 2026, the Games will unfold across northern Italy, blending world-class winter sports with iconic Italian cities, historic venues, and cutting-edge sustainability goals.
Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 – Key Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | XXV Olympic Winter Games |
| Dates | 6–22 February 2026 |
| Competition Days | 17 days |
| Host Cities | Milan & Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy |
| Opening Ceremony | San Siro, Milan – 6 February 2026 |
| Closing Ceremony | Verona Arena – 22 February 2026 |
| Sports / Disciplines | 8 sports / 16 disciplines |
| Total Medal Events | 116 |
Unlike previous Winter Games centered in a single region, Milano Cortina 2026 embraces a multi-hub model, spreading events across Alpine resorts, urban arenas, and historic Italian landmarks.
Milano Cortina 2026 Schedule
The Games will officially begin with the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan, one of Europe’s most iconic football venues. Competition will start shortly after and continue for 17 consecutive days, culminating in the Closing Ceremony at the Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheater over 2,000 years old.
Winter Olympics 2026 Schedule, Timings for Each Event
February 4–22, 2026 • Milano–Cortina- OC Opening ceremony
- Event competitions
- 1 Medal events (count)
- CC Closing ceremony
| Event | February 2026 | Events | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4Wed |
5Thu |
6Fri |
7Sat |
8Sun |
9Mon |
10Tue |
11Wed |
12Thu |
13Fri |
14Sat |
15Sun |
16Mon |
17Tue |
18Wed |
19Thu |
20Fri |
21Sat |
22Sun |
||
| Ceremonies | OC | CC | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Alpine skiing | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |||||||||
| Biathlon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | |||||||||
| Daily medal events | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 116 |
| Cumulative total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 27 | 35 | 44 | 51 | 59 | 68 | 74 | 81 | 89 | 96 | 102 | 112 | 116 | — |
Key Scheduling Features
- Early morning Alpine events to maximize snow quality
- Prime-time ice sports in Milan-based arenas
- Staggered finals across disciplines to reduce overlap
- Balanced scheduling for men’s and women’s medal events
This structure is designed to improve global TV viewership while offering athletes optimal competitive conditions.
Sports and Disciplines at Milano Cortina 2026
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will feature 16 disciplines across traditional and modern winter sports, with several updates focused on gender equality and team balance.
Complete List of Disciplines & Medal Events
| Discipline | Medal Events |
|---|---|
| Alpine Skiing | 10 |
| Biathlon | 11 |
| Bobsleigh | 4 |
| Cross-Country Skiing | 12 |
| Curling | 3 |
| Figure Skating | 5 |
| Freestyle Skiing | 15 |
| Ice Hockey | 2 |
| Luge | 5 |
| Nordic Combined | 3 |
| Short-Track Speed Skating | 9 |
| Skeleton | 3 |
| Ski Jumping | 6 |
| Ski Mountaineering (NEW) | 3 |
| Snowboarding | 11 |
| Speed Skating | 14 |
What’s New at Milano Cortina 2026
1. Ski Mountaineering Makes Olympic Debut
For the first time in Winter Olympic history, ski mountaineering joins the program. This endurance-driven Alpine sport reflects Europe’s mountain culture and adds a modern, eco-friendly dimension to the Games.
2. Expanded Women’s Participation
Milano Cortina 2026 continues the IOC’s push toward gender parity, introducing:
- More women’s team events
- Balanced quotas in Alpine, Nordic, and freestyle disciplines
- Improved scheduling visibility for women’s finals
3. Team-Centric Adjustments
Several disciplines now emphasize mixed and team formats, increasing strategy, national depth, and viewer engagement.
4. NHL Players Return to Ice Hockey
Men’s ice hockey will once again feature NHL players, restoring elite-level competition and significantly boosting global viewership, especially in North America and Europe.
Venues and Host Regions
Events will be distributed across:
- Milan – Ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating
- Cortina d’Ampezzo – Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling
- Val di Fiemme – Nordic skiing, ski jumping
- Livigno – Snowboarding, freestyle skiing
This approach reduces new construction, aligns with sustainability goals, and showcases Italy’s diverse winter landscapes.
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Live Stream – Global Broadcasting Rights
The Winter Olympics will be available to billions of viewers worldwide through a vast network of official broadcasters.
Major Broadcasters by Region
| Territory | Rights holder |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | RTSH |
| Andorra | RTVA |
| Australia | Nine and Stan Sport |
| Austria | ORF |
| Belgium | RTBF, VRT |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo and CazéTV |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Canada | CBC/Radio-Canada, TSN, RDS |
| Central Asia | Infront Sports & Media |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CMG |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Czech Republic | ČT |
| Denmark | DR, TV 2 |
| Estonia | ERR |
| Europe | EBU, Warner Bros. Discovery |
| Finland | YLE |
| France | France Télévisions |
| Georgia | GPB |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF |
| Greece | ERT |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | Sports Channel |
| Italy | RAI |
| Japan | Japan Consortium |
| Kazakhstan | RTRK, Khabar |
| Kosovo | RTK |
| Latin America | Claro Sports |
| Latvia | LTV |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | LRT |
| Macau | CMG and TDM |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision |
| Moldova | TRM |
| Mongolia | NTV, MNB, TenGer TV, Suld TV, C1, Edu TV |
| Montenegro | RTCG |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | Sky |
| North Korea | JTBC |
| North Macedonia | MRT |
| Norway | NRK |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | RTP |
| Romania | TVR |
| Russia | Okko Sport |
| San Marino | RAI |
| Slovakia | STVR |
| Slovenia | RTV |
| Southeast Asia | Infront Sports & Media |
| South Korea | JTBC, NAVER |
| Spain | RTVE |
| Sweden | SVT and TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Ukraine | Suspilne |
| United Kingdom | BBC |
| United States | NBCUniversal, Versant |
| Vietnam | VTVCab, VTV |
In addition, dozens of national public broadcasters across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas will provide free-to-air and digital coverage, ensuring maximum global accessibility.
Digital Streaming and Online Coverage
Milano Cortina 2026 will place strong emphasis on multi-platform broadcasting, including:
- Live streaming via official broadcaster apps
- On-demand replays and highlights
- Multi-camera and discipline-specific feeds
- Mobile-optimized Olympic content
This digital-first strategy aligns with modern viewing habits and younger audiences.
Why Milano Cortina 2026 Matters
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are more than a sporting event—they represent:
- A new hosting model for future Olympics
- Greater gender balance and athlete equity
- Integration of modern and traditional winter sports
- A renewed focus on sustainability and legacy venues
By blending historic Italian culture with elite winter competition, Milano Cortina 2026 is set to redefine how the Winter Games are experienced worldwide.
Final Thoughts
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 promise unforgettable moments, groundbreaking sports updates, and truly global reach. With 116 medal events, a refined schedule, the debut of ski mountaineering, and worldwide broadcasting coverage, these Games are positioned to become one of the most watched and celebrated Winter Olympics of the modern era.
As February 2026 approaches, fans can expect a spectacular fusion of sport, history, innovation, and Italian passion—all on the world’s biggest winter stage.