2026 Winter Olympics: Host City, Sports, Schedule, and Highlights

The 2026 Winter Olympics are being held across two Italian cities—Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo—from February 6 to 22, 2026, with competitions beginning as early as February 4.

Host Cities and Venues

Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo jointly host the Games, making use of multiple clusters across northern Italy:

Milan Cluster

• Opening Ceremony: Stadio San Siro hosts the grand opening, featuring simultaneous cauldron lightings in Milan and Cortina.
• Venues: Mediolanum Forum (figure skating, short track), PalaItalia (ice hockey), Verona Arena (closing ceremony).

Cortina & Surrounding Clusters

• Cortina d’Ampezzo: Alpine skiing events.
• Rasen-Antholz: Biathlon.
• Pista Eugenio Monti: Bobsleigh, luge, skeleton.
• Predazzo: Ski jumping and Nordic combined.
• Tesero (Lago di Tesero): Cross-country skiing and biathlon center.
• Baselga di Piné: Speed skating facility.

Sports Program & New Additions

There are 116 medal events across 16 disciplines grouped into eight sports.

New Sport: Ski Mountaineering (“Skimo”)

Debuting for the first time, skimo brings uphill, on-foot, and downhill racing into one demanding relay and sprint format.

New Medal Events in Existing Sports:

• Skeleton: Mixed team relay pairs male and female athletes.
• Luge: Women’s doubles added for the first time.
• Ski Jumping: Introduction of a women’s large hill and a new men’s super team event.
• Freestyle Skiing: Dual moguls (men’s and women’s) bring bracket-style direct competition.
• Alpine Skiing: The individual combined event has been replaced by a team combined format.

These 10 new medal opportunities aim to enhance gender parity and event diversity.

Competition Schedule Overview

Early Events & Opening Ceremony

• February 4: Curling mixed doubles begins; the earliest official action of the Games.
• February 5: Women’s ice hockey and snowboarding competitions start.
• February 6: Official Opening Ceremony kicks off at 2 p.m. ET, broadcast across NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock.

Key Event Highlights by Day

• Day 1 (Feb. 7): Alpine skiing, team figure skating, curling, freestyle skiing slopestyle, women’s hockey, luge.
• Day 3 (Feb. 9): Alpine team combined, ski jumping, continued curling, hockey, freestyle skiing finals.
• Day 6 (Feb. 12): Among the nine golds contested—women’s super-G, cross-country, team relay luge, snowboard halfpipe, short track finals, and skeleton men’s heats.
• Day 9 (Feb. 15): Giant slalom, cross-country relay, biathlon pursuits, skeleton mixed teams, women’s large hill ski jumping, snowboard cross, speed skating.
• Final Day (Feb. 22): Concludes with men’s ice hockey final and closing ceremony, wrapping the Games in dramatic fashion.

Highlight Moments & Storylines

Historic Wins & Record Performances

• Francesca Lollobrigida makes history for host Italy, capturing the first gold in women’s 3,000m speed skating on her 35th birthday—setting a new Olympic record.
• “Quad God” Ilia Malinin dazzles with a high-difficulty routine in men’s figure skating short program, leading into the finals.

Dramatic Medal Moments

• Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) wins men’s Super-G—his third gold in five days—with a dramatic edge over the field.
• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Norway) claims another gold in men’s sprint cross-country, edging closer to becoming the most decorated Winter Olympian.
• Mikaela Shiffrin faces another disappointing result—finishing fourth in team combined—failing to medal yet again.
• Mixed doubles curling features a U.S.–Sweden rematch, highlighting strong rivalry and putting Thiesse on course to become the first American woman to medal in the sport.

Off-Field Stories that Shaped the Narrative

• Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid issues a public apology for personal matters following his bronze win—blending sport and personal accountability.
• Amid global tensions, Utah Governor Cox addresses audience from Milan about the U.S.’s welcoming spirit as it prepares for the 2034 Winter Games.

A Closer Look at the U.S. Team

Team USA fields 232 athletes across 16 sports.
– So far, the U.S. ranks 5th overall with 2 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
– American stars like Malinin, Thiesse, and Shiffrin continue to draw global attention.

Conclusion

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina are making history with innovative new events, dramatic competition, and vibrant cultural moments. From Italy’s record-breaking speed skating gold to “Quad God” Malinin’s jaw-dropping performance, this edition has balanced athletic brilliance with human stories. The mix of debut sports and expanded women’s events marks meaningful progress in Olympic evolution.

As the Games move toward their finale on February 22, athletes, fans, and storytellers alike brace for more unforgettable moments—whether on the slopes, the ice, or in the hearts of those watching.

FAQs

What makes the 2026 Winter Olympics unique?
It’s co-hosted by Milan and Cortina with unprecedented geographic spread. It also debuts ski mountaineering and adds several new events across existing disciplines to boost inclusivity.

When did the Games officially start and end?
Competitions began February 4, 2026, with the opening ceremony on February 6. The Games conclude on February 22, 2026.

How many new medal events are there?
There are 10 new medal events, including those in skimo, women’s doubles luge, skeleton mixed relay, women’s large hill ski jump, men’s super team jump, dual moguls, and team combined alpine.

Where can I watch in the U.S.?
NBC and Peacock lead coverage, with NBC offering extensive daytime and primetime programming, plus the “Gold Zone” whip-around show, and Peacock streaming every event.

Who broke records in these Games?
Francesca Lollobrigida set a new Olympic speed skating record for the women’s 3,000m. Ilia Malinin stunned with signature technical and presentation scores in figure skating.

How’s Team USA doing so far?
The U.S. is ranked 5th with 2 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes. While stars like Malinin and Thiesse shine, others such as Shiffrin face continued medal droughts.