2026 Winter Olympics to Open in Milan, Cortina

The 2026 Winter Olympics will open on February 6 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, marking the 25th edition of the games and the first time the event returns to the country since 2006. Spanning 17 days until February 22, the competition will feature 116 gold medals across 16 sports and 115 events, including eight new additions like ski mountaineering and women's doubles luge, at venues spread across Lombardy and northeast Italy.

Organizers have emphasized the games' expansive scope, with primary sites in Milan for ice events and Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites for alpine disciplines, more than 400 kilometers apart by road. Additional mountain clusters will host skiing and snowboarding, while the closing ceremony takes place in Verona, 160 kilometers east of Milan. Construction continues on key facilities, including Milan's hockey arenas, where the main rink measures slightly shorter than standard NHL dimensions. The athletes' village in Cortina consists of over 350 mobile homes, adapting to the rugged terrain.

Italy, as host nation, aims for at least 19 medals, according to Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio. Medalists will receive prize money...