Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Prepare for 2026 Winter Olympics

The 25th Winter Olympics are set to take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to February 22, 2026, bringing together around 3,000 athletes from 90 nations. This highly anticipated event will showcase 116 competitions across various snow and ice sports, with many preliminary events kicking off as early as February 4.

Why It Matters

The Olympic Games not only serve as a global stage for athletes to compete at the highest levels but also highlight the host cities, drawing international attention and tourism. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, renowned for their cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes, will capitalize on this moment to foster unity and celebrate athletic excellence.

Key Developments

• Event Schedule: The Games will span 19 days, featuring eight sports.
• Main Venues: Key venues include San Siro Stadium in Milan for the opening ceremony and the historic arena in Verona for the closing ceremony.
• New Sports and Events: A notable addition is ski mountaineering alongside several new events like women’s doubles luge and mixed team skeleton.
• Team GB’s Ambitions: Team Great Britain will send 53 athletes, aiming for a record medal haul.

Full Report

Venue Layout and Competitions

Events during the Olympics will occur in 15 locations across northern Italy. Key facilities include:

• Milan:
  • Milano Ice Skating Arena: Figure skating and short track speed skating
  • Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium: Opening ceremony
  • Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena: Ice hockey matches
• Cortina d’Ampezzo:
  • Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium: Curling events
  • Cortina Sliding Centre: Bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton
• Other Locations:
  • Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium and Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium will host respective ski jumping and cross-country skiing events.

Ceremonies and Cultural Highlights

The opening ceremony on February 6 at San Siro Stadium will feature performances by American singer Mariah Carey and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The closing ceremony is scheduled for February 22 at the Verona Arena.

Preliminary events will kick off on February 4 with mixed doubles curling, followed by ice hockey and snowboarding competitions commencing on February 5.

New Sports and Events

Among the firsts for these Games is the inclusion of ski mountaineering, alongside eight newly added events across various disciplines such as women’s large hill ski jumping and men’s and women’s dual moguls in freestyle skiing. This expansion aims to ensure gender equality in medal opportunities within the sports.

Team Great Britain’s Medal Quest

Team GB is eager to surpass its record of five Olympic medals achieved in Sochi and Pyeongchang. Key athletes include:

• Matt Weston: Two-time world champion in skeleton.
• Bruce Mouat: Captain of the men’s curling team, aiming high in the mixed doubles alongside Beijing gold medallist Jennifer Dodds.
• Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson: Their ice dance partnership hopes to bring home a medal in a sport where Britain has not excelled in over four decades.

Context & Previous Events

Cortina d’Ampezzo previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, making this event a significant return to a historic venue. Additionally, NHL players will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, igniting further excitement in ice hockey competitions.

As the Games approach, preparations extend beyond sports, encompassing all facets that will make this a memorable event in Olympic history.