2026 Winter Olympics: Schedule, Sports, Venues, and Key Highlights

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo offer a rich mix of sports, legendary venues, and new competitions—kicking off with curling on February 4 and running through a star-studded closing ceremony in Verona on February 22. The Games span eight sports, 116 medal events, and bring together athletes across scenic Italian landscapes.

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Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Torch Journey

The Games began with a groundbreaking, multi-site opening ceremony on February 6—spanning Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium and satellite events in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. Two cauldrons were lit simultaneously, symbolizing unity across the host regions . Performers ranged from Mariah Carey to Andrea Bocelli, with artistic nods to Italy’s culture and history .

The Olympic torch’s 63-day relay covered over 7,000 miles across more than 100 provinces, culminating in the opening ceremony . The closing ceremony will take place at the ancient Verona Arena on February 22, featuring ballet star Roberto Bolle in a tribute-themed performance called “Beauty in Action” .

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Sports and Debut Events

New Additions and Gender Equity

Ski mountaineering debuts in Milan-Cortina 2026, marking the first new Winter Olympic sport in nearly 30 years . The Games also debuted several medal events across existing sports:

• Dual moguls (men & women) in freestyle skiing
• Women’s doubles in luge
• Mixed team relay in skeleton
• Women’s large hill in ski jumping
• Team combined alpine skiing replacing the super combined

The Games also feature the highest percentage of women participants yet—about 47% .

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Venue Clusters Across Italy

Milan Cluster (Ice Events & Opening Ceremony)

• San Siro Stadium: Opening ceremony site
• Stefano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena: New 12–14k-seat venue for ice hockey
• Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena: Supplemental ice hockey prelims
• Speed skating stadium in Milan with around 7.5k capacity
• Figure skating and short-track arenas also located in Milan

Cortina & Surrounding Mountains (Alpine & Sliding Sports)

• Tofane (Cortina): Women’s alpine skiing events
• Stelvio (Bormio): Men’s alpine events
• Cortina Curling Stadium: Curling events venue
• Cortina Sliding Centre: New track for bobsleigh, luge, skeleton

Valtellina (Freestyle & Snowboarding)

• Livigno Snow Park and Aerials & Moguls Park host freestyle skiing and snowboarding, including the new dual moguls

Val di Fiemme & Predazzo (Nordic Disciplines)

• Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium: Ski jumping and Nordic combined
• Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium: Cross-country skiing and Nordic combined

Verona Arena

• Gothic Roman amphitheater to host the closing ceremony

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Schedule Overview

Timeline & Format

Competitions began on February 4 with curling mixed doubles; opening ceremony followed on February 6; the closing ceremony wraps up on February 22 . Across 19 days, athletes compete in 116 medal events across eight sports and 16 disciplines .

Sample Day Highlights

• February 8: Women’s downhill, mixed biathlon relay, skiathlon, luge, figure skating, snowboarding qualifiers, ice hockey, and speed skating medal events
• February 12: Women’s super-G, cross-country races, freestyle moguls, ice hockey rounds, skeleton, short-track finals, and snowboard finals

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Key Highlights from Milan-Cortina 2026

Medal-Winning Moments

• USA’s Breezy Johnson claimed gold in women’s downhill—Team USA’s first medal
• Sweden’s Wranå siblings earned curling mixed doubles gold, defeating the USA 6–5
• Slovenia won mixed team ski jumping, and Arianna Fontana earned her 12th career Olympic medal in mixed speed skating relay for Italy
• Kristjan Ilves led Nordic combined; Chloe Kim stunned in women’s snowboard halfpipe
• Ilia Malinin wowed in figure skating with five quads and a backflip en route to the men’s short program

Broadcast & Coverage

Viewers in the U.S. can watch on USA Network, NBC, Peacock, with streaming via trials and subscriptions . Today’s schedule includes live action across alpine, figure skating, speed skating, snowboarding, and hockey .

Visual Storytelling

AP’s photo galleries from Day 4 capture pivotal stories—athlete emotions, action shots, and the Games’ energy .

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Closing Thoughts

The 2026 Winter Olympics blend Italy’s cultural grandeur with the charm of alpine landscapes. Multiple venues—from Milan’s urban arenas to Cortina’s mountain slopes—host new and historic disciplines. The expanded slate of women’s events and the debut of ski mountaineering signal a meaningful evolution.

A standout Games so far, with thrilling performances and inclusive design. Whatever your interest—Curling drama or freestyle adrenaline—Milan-Cortina has delivered.

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FAQs

What are the dates for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The Games run February 4–22, 2026, with the first competitions starting February 4 and the closing ceremony held on February 22 .

Which cities are hosting the Games?
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo jointly host the 2026 Winter Olympics, with events spread across these areas and surrounding mountain clusters .

Are there any new sports or events this year?
Yes—ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut, and events like dual moguls, women’s doubles luge, mixed skeleton relay, and women’s large hill ski jumping are new medal competitions .

Where will the opening and closing ceremonies be held?
The opening ceremony took place at San Siro Stadium in Milan with simultaneous festivities in Cortina and other mountain sites; the closing will be at Verona Arena .

How can U.S. viewers watch the events?
NBC, Peacock, and USA Network carry live and replay coverage. Streaming options include Peacock subscriptions and network apps .

How many medal events are there and how are they distributed?
There are 116 medal events across eight sports and 16 disciplines, taking place across four geographic zones in Italy .