Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Complete Guide to Italy’s Games

Daredevils in fluorescent outfits hurtling down slopes and slides; a backdrop of stunning mountain views; soaring prices for hotels and restaurants: the magic and mayhem of the Winter Olympics returns to Italy in February 2026 as Milano Cortina hosts the XXV Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. From 6th to 22nd February, 2026, more than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete for 116 medals in 16 Olympic disciplines, with Italy hosting the Games over the most widely distributed area ever.

Milano Cortina 2026: A Tale of Two Cities

This unique Olympics spans our own dear city of Milan – Italy’s fashion capital and the home of the elephant’s ear cutlet – and the “Queen of the Dolomites”, Cortina d’Ampezzo, creating an unprecedented blend of urban sophistication and alpine adventure. Milano brings metropolitan energy and world-class infrastructure, while Cortina offers breathtaking natural scenery and a legendary skiing heritage.

However,  the Games won’t be confined to just these two locations. Competitions and ceremonies will take place across multiple Italian regions – from Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo to Bormio and Livigno in Valtellina, Predazzo and Tesero in Val di Fiemme, and Anterselva/Antholz, showcasing Italy’s diverse winter sports landscape. The official motto, “IT’s Your Vibe” plays on both Italy’s identity and the energetic atmosphere these games aim to create.

What’s New at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics

Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut: The biggest news at these Games is the introduction of ski mountaineering, with three medal events (men’s sprint, women’s sprint and mixed relay). The event involves clambering up mountains on a pair of skis or carrying them (no comfy chairlifts here) and then skiing back down. It reflects the Games’ commitment to innovation while also honouring alpine traditions, combining endurance, technical skill and mountain craft in a discipline that perfectly embodies the spirit of the Italian Alps. Should make great viewing.

Enhanced competition programme: The 2026 programme features 116 medal events across 16 disciplines – seven more than Beijing 2022. Other innovations include:

• Dual moguls in freestyle skiing (men’s and women’s)
• Mixed team skeleton event
• Women’s large hill ski jumping (a historic first)
• Women’s doubles luge returns
• Alpine combined (skiing) shifts to two-person teams
• NHL players return to men’s ice hockey for the first time since 2014

The organisers have made great strides as regards gender parity as well: women are expected to make up about 47% of participants – the highest percentage in Winter Olympic history.

Milano Cortina 2026 Venues: Where History Meets Innovation

Milano Olympic Venues: Urban Energy and Innovation

Milano’s venues showcase the city’s commitment to sustainability while creating spectacular sporting environments:

• San Siro Stadium: The legendary cathedral of football (or soccer, if you prefer) hosts the Opening Ceremony
• PalaItalia: A new 16,000-seat ice hockey arena currently under construction (anyone with a power drill and few hours to spare can get in touch to help out as the deadline approaches)
• Forum di Milano: Existing venue for figure skating and short track speed skating
• Fiera Milano Rho: The cavernous halls normally home to design trade fairs are being temporarily transformed into Olympic venues for speed skating and ice hockey preliminaries

Alpine Olympic Venues: Cortina and Beyond

The venues high up in the mountains blend natural beauty with cutting-edge facilities that have benefited from a massive investment designed to outlast the Games themselves:

• Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre: Cortina’s iconic downhill courses
• Cortina Sliding Centre: Brand new 1,730-metre track with 16 curves for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton (rapid head-first descent on a tea tray)
• Anterselva Biathlon Arena: The renowned South Tyrolean venue returns to Olympic action
• Livigno Carosello 3000: Already completed slopes for moguls and aerials – the first venue to be finished
• Verona Arena: The historic Roman amphitheatre (built in 30 AD, so there won’t be  a problem with contractors still adding the finishing touches as atheletes and spectators arrive) will host the Closing Ceremony, creating an unforgettable fusion of ancient history and Olympic tradition.

Milano Cortina 2026 Preparations: Racing Against Time

The countdown to 2026 has accelerated major infrastructure projects across Italy. The new Cortina Sliding Centre, rebuilt from scratch after the old track was demolished, successfully passed pre-homologation tests (i.e. making sure it’s up to scratch and meets all the building regulations) in March 2025. Lake Placid, USA, was considered as a backup venue, but the Italian track should be ready for business on the day.

Milano’s temporary Olympic venues at Fiera Milano demonstrate innovative sustainable planning – after the Games, these halls will revert to their original exhibition use, avoiding the cost of building extra permanent facilities. The approach emphasises using 80% existing or temporary venues compared to 60% in previous Olympic bids, reducing costs by an average of 15%.

Transportation at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games

Olympic organisers have invested €1 billion in transport infrastructure improvements that will benefit Italy long after the Games end. The Italian rail network, led by Trenitalia and the FS Group, forms the backbone of Olympic transport, with enhanced services including:

• Extended operating hours during the Games
• Increased frequency of trains, metro/subway and local transport
• Dedicated shuttle services between venue clusters
• Strategic coordination across the Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino regions

The multi-cluster format means careful planning is essential: while staying in Milano will give visitors access to all the urban amenities and cultural goodies on offer, as well as proximity to the Games’ ice events, the mountain locations will provide authentic alpine experiences and piste-side access to outdoor competitions.

Milano’s Olympic Transformation

The 2026 Games are catalysing remarkable changes across Milano, particularly in the Santa Giulia district where new facilities and public spaces are being developed (despite the inevitable wrangles over cost and other issues that are a feature of every Olympics and Paralympics). The city’s transformation emphasises:

Urban Development: Infrastructure improvements extending far beyond sports venues, with upgraded transport, roads, signage and public transit systems accelerated for Olympic readiness.

Cultural Impact: Milano’s position as a global fashion and design capital adds a unique dimension to these Olympics, providing visitors with world-class dining, shopping and entertainment options that complement the sporting spectacle. (Be sure to check out all of EasyMilano’s articles in the run-up to the Games for ideas and suggestions about making the most of your time in the city.)

Legacy Planning: The new ice hockey arena will provide Milano with a modern 16,000-seat multipurpose venue, while the global broadcast reach to over 200 countries will give the city an unprecedented platform and boost long-term tourism visibility. The Olympic Village, part of the redevelopment of the former railway yard of Scalo Romana (in the Porta Romana area of Milan) will house approximately 1,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes. After the Games, it will be converted into student housing and partly into affordable/social housing. The ground-level and public spaces (plazas, shops, cafés and green areas) are designed to become integrated urban amenities for residents and the broader community.

Sustainability at Milano Cortina 2026

These Games represent a new model for sustainable Olympic hosting. The eco-conscious approach includes:

• A refillable Olympic torch made from recycled aluminum alloy using bio-LPG
• Medals designed as two interlocking halves, symbolising cooperation and shared journeys
• Minimal permanent construction to avoid “white elephant” (or maybe that should be “white mammoth”) venues
• Emphasis on renewable energy and reuse of existing infrastructure
• A 12,000-kilometre torch relay through all 110 Italian provinces to build national engagement

Planning Your Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Experience

Getting Involved: Team26, the Volunteers Programme, offers opportunities for locals and expats to participate directly in Games organisation, creating lifelong memories while supporting this historic event.

Ticketing and Access: The official ticketing system is operational, with options ranging from individual event tickets to comprehensive hospitality packages. Early planning is essential, as demand is expected to be exceptionally high for this unique Italian Olympic experience.

Accommodation Strategy: With venues spread across multiple locations, visitors should consider their priorities when booking. Milano offers urban convenience and nightlife, while mountain locations are great for the authentic alpine experiences, lungfuls of fresh air and hearty, rustic cuisine. Transport coordination between clusters requires careful scheduling for spectators wanting to attend multiple events. Bottom line: it pays to plan ahead.

Fascinating Facts About the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics

• Cortina d’Ampezzo previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, making it one of only a handful of cities to host the Games twice.
• The distance between Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo is approximately 400 kilometres, making these among the most geographically dispersed Olympic Games ever.
• The new sliding track features 16 curves across 1,730 metres and underwent successful testing in March 2025.
• Eight venues from the 1956 Cortina Olympics will be reused, a testament to their remarkable longevity.
• Livigno became the first venue completed in December 2024.
• Milano Cortina 2026 represents the first time the Winter Olympics has returned to Italy since Turin 2006.
• The Games’ mascots are two stoats, Tina and Milo, symbolising playfulness, curiosity and alpine life. Tina (short for Cortina) represents the Winter Olympics, while Milo (from Milano), born without a paw, symbolises the Winter Paralympics.

Milano Cortina 2026: The Ultimate Winter Sports Celebration

Milano Cortina 2026 promises to be about more than “just” the Olympic Games – it’s a celebration of Italian culture, alpine tradition, and sporting excellence. Whether visitors (and residents) are drawn by the glamour of Milano, the majesty of the Dolomites or the thrill of Olympic competition, these Games will offer an unprecedented opportunity to experience Italy’s passion for winter sports in some of the world’s most spectacular settings.

Milano Cortina 2026 represents a unique chance to witness Olympic history while enjoying Italy’s legendary hospitality, cuisine and culture. From the clanking vintage trams and glitzy shopping districts of Milano to the snow-capped peaks of Cortina, from the historic Verona Arena to cutting-edge sustainable venues, these Games will showcase Italy at its absolute finest (despite the grumbling and griping about inflated prices, disruption to normal life, inevitable logistical hiccups and the perennial spoilsports who argue the money could be better spent elsewhere).

Article by Robert Dennis for Easy Milano

Robert Dennis is a writer and Business English teacher based in Milan. He has been teaching for other 30 years both in the UK and in Italy. A long-time collaborator with John Peter Sloan, Robert published Business English (Gribaudo) in 2020. The book was launched with “Il Sole 24 Ore” and sold in newsstands throughout Italy. Robert has a website for people who want to learn Business English: PayAsYouLearn.com. The site features keywords and phrases, audio and exercises to help professionals improve their language skills. A graduate in English from Oxford University, Robert is a regular contributor to Easy Milano who often writes about plays staged in English in Milan and other cultural events in the city. He is also a translator and “buongustaio” who loves Italian food! robertdennis.it