A dynamic split-level winter sports scene: top half shows the modern Milan skyline with snow-capped Alps in the background, bottom half shows the classic Cortina d'Ampezzo village nestled in a snowy valley; ski jumpers and ice skaters in action; the Olympic rings subtly integrated; vibrant, crisp winter lighting.
Winter Olympics 2026: Milano-Cortina
The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games, are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026, across various venues in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The Paralympic Games will follow from March 6 to 15, 2026.
Venues and Host Cities
The Games will be hosted across two main locations in northern Italy:
- Milan: The metropolitan hub known for its fashion, design, and urban sophistication
- Cortina d'Ampezzo: The picturesque alpine resort in the Dolomites, previously host of the 1956 Winter Olympics
- A spiral-shaped LED stage symbolizing unity
- Two Olympic cauldrons lit simultaneously in Milan and Cortina
- Tributes to Italian culture, including Leonardo da Vinci and fashion designer Giorgio Armani
- A celebration of Italian heritage and Olympic tradition
- Ski Mountaineering: Making its Olympic debut with men's and women's sprints and a mixed-gender relay
- Women's Doubles Luge: Expanding gender equality in sliding sports
- Women's Large Hill Ski Jumping: Completing the women's program in ski jumping
- Mixed Team Skeleton: Adding a team element to the individual sport
- Approximately 12,000 kilometers of travel
- Visiting all 110 provinces of Italy
- Involving 10,001 torchbearers
- Symbolizing the unity of the Italian regions
- Collaboration with 5,000 local drivers
- Designated pick-up and drop-off zones at Olympic venues
- Efficient transportation management across widespread event locations
- Olimpia Zagnoli's "Olympic Vision": Features a central figure with glasses shaped like Olympic rings against snow-capped mountains, symbolizing the blend of Milan's urban elegance and Cortina's alpine charm
- Carolina Altavilla's Paralympic poster: Showcases dynamic representations of all six Winter Paralympic sports set before Milan's iconic Duomo
- Infrastructure improvements in both host regions
- Sustainable development practices
- Promotion of winter sports across Italy
- Cultural exchange and international cooperation
This dual-city approach represents a unique model for Olympic hosting, combining urban and mountain environments across the Lombardy and Veneto regions.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony is set for February 6, 2026, at Milan's historic San Siro stadium. Titled "Armonia" (Harmony), the event will feature:
New Sports and Events
The 2026 Games will introduce several new competitions:
Torch Relay
The Olympic torch relay will commence on November 26, 2025, in Olympia, Greece, and conclude on February 6, 2026, in Milan. Key details include:
Recent Developments
Sponsorship and Partnerships
Uber has been announced as a sponsor for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The partnership includes:
Official Branding and Posters
The organizing committee has unveiled official posters designed by Italian artists:
Participation and Regulations
Russian Athletes: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that athletes from Russia will participate under a neutral flag, maintaining sanctions similar to the previous Summer Games in Paris following the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023.
Gender Testing: The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is implementing gender testing for female skiers and snowboarders, following new International Ski Federation (FIS) rules requiring SRY gene tests to detect the Y chromosome for athletes competing in women's events.
Diplomatic Initiatives
Global Ceasefire Proposal: Italy plans to propose a worldwide ceasefire to the United Nations ahead of the Games, reviving the ancient Greek tradition of an Olympic truce to ensure safe travel for athletes.
Legacy and Sustainability
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Games aim to create a lasting legacy through:
Looking Ahead
With the 100-day countdown approaching, preparations are intensifying across all aspects of the Games organization. The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics represent Italy's third time hosting the Winter Games, following Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006, continuing the nation's rich Olympic tradition while embracing innovation in sports and event management.
The prompt for this was: winter olympics 2026
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