By Krishna Dua 
2026 Winter Olympics: Italy Hosts Global Showpiece
The XXV Olympic Winter Games officially opened in Milan on the evening of 6 February 2026 with a spectacular ceremony at San Siro Stadium. Italy is hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics across the twin hubs of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, marking the fourth time the country has staged the Winter Games (after Cortina 1956, Rome 1960 Summer, and Turin 2006). The 17-day competition, running until 22 February 2026, features 116 medal events across eight sports and sixteen disciplines, with approximately 2,900 athletes from 92 National Olympic Committees taking part.
Milan–Cortina 2026 is the first “dual-host” Winter Olympics in history, with ice sports concentrated in Milan and snow sports spread across the Dolomites in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val di Fiemme, Bormio and other valleys. The Games are being held under the official slogan “Fino all’alba” (“Until Dawn”), symbolising the light, hope and perseverance athletes bring even in the depths of winter.
Opening Ceremony Highlights
The opening ceremony on 6 February was directed by Marco Balich, the creative mind behind multiple Olympic ceremonies. The show blended Italian art, fashion, music, technology and winter-sport heritage. Key moments included:
- A massive projection mapping on the San Siro pitch recreating the Italian Alps
- A 400-strong choir performing a new Olympic anthem composed by Ludovico Einaudi
- Fashion parade featuring outfits designed by Giorgio Armani, showcasing the evolution of winter sportswear
- Lighting of the cauldron by Sofia Goggia (Alpine skiing) and Arianna Fontana (short-track speed skating), Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympians
- A symbolic “dawn” sequence with 2,900 drones forming the Olympic rings and the Milan–Cortina logo above the stadium
The ceremony was watched live by an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide.
Host Cities & Venue Distribution
The Games are spread across three main clusters:
Milan Cluster (Ice Sports)
- Mediolanum Forum – Ice Hockey (main arena)
- PalaItalia Santa Giulia – new 15,000-seat arena for Ice Hockey finals, figure skating & short track
- Milano Cortina Olympic Village – athlete accommodation in Milan
Cortina d’Ampezzo Cluster (Alpine & Snow Sports)
- Cortina Sliding Centre – Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton (renovated historic venue)
- Tofane slopes – Women’s Alpine skiing
- Faloria–Cristallo slopes – Men’s Alpine skiing
- Olympic Ice Stadium Cortina – Figure Skating & Short Track
Valtellina & Val di Fiemme Cluster
- Stelvio Track (Bormio) – Men’s Alpine skiing downhill
- Tesero Speed Skating Oval – new venue for long-track speed skating
- Lago di Tesero Cross-Country Stadium – Cross-country skiing, biathlon
- Predazzo Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Centre
Ninety percent of venues are existing or renovated facilities; only three permanent new venues were constructed.
Sports Programme & New Events
The 2026 Winter Olympics feature 116 medal events—an increase of 7 from Beijing 2022. New events include:
- Ski mountaineering (men’s & women’s sprint + individual races)
- Mixed team snowboard cross
- Mixed team ski jumping
- Mixed relay biathlon single
- Women’s 1,500 m short-track relay
Flagship events to watch:
- Alpine Skiing Men’s Downhill (11 February) on the legendary Stelvio track in Bormio
- Figure Skating Team Event (new format) and individual competitions at PalaItalia
- Biathlon Pursuit and Mass Start in Antholz-Anterselva
- Snowboard Big Air finals at Cortina’s renovated Faloria jump
- Ice Hockey Men’s Final (22 February) at Mediolanum Forum, Milan
Athletes to Watch
Several stars are expected to dominate headlines:
- Norway — Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (cross-country) targets sixth Olympic gold; Tiril Eckhoff and Marte Olsbu Røiseland lead biathlon
- United States — Mikaela Shiffrin aims for Alpine skiing history; Chloe Kim defends snowboard halfpipe title
- Italy — Sofia Goggia (Alpine skiing downhill) and Arianna Fontana (short track) are home favourites
- Canada — Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais in speed skating; Max Parrot (snowboard slopestyle)
- Germany — Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi in bobsleigh; Francesco Friedrich in four-man bobsleigh
- Sweden — Nils van der Poel (speed skating) seeks to defend 5,000 m and 10,000 m titles
- Switzerland — Marco Odermatt (Alpine skiing giant slalom) is the man to beat
Medal Table Predictions & Historical Context
Norway is the overwhelming favourite to top the medal table for the fourth consecutive Winter Games. Early projections:
- Norway: 20–24 medals (8–11 gold)
- Germany: 18–22 medals (6–9 gold)
- United States: 16–20 medals (5–8 gold)
- Canada: 14–18 medals (4–7 gold)
- Italy: 12–16 medals (3–6 gold)
Italy hopes to finish in the top 5 for the first time since Turin 2006. China, which topped the table in Beijing 2022, is expected to drop significantly due to reduced home advantage.
Legacy & Sustainability Commitments
Milan–Cortina 2026 has placed strong emphasis on sustainability:
- 90 % of venues are existing or renovated
- 100 % renewable energy target for Olympic venues
- Zero single-use plastic policy
- Carbon-neutral target through offsets and green-energy procurement
- Legacy plan includes repurposing the Milan Olympic Village as affordable housing and training facilities
The Games also achieved gender parity: 51 % of athletes are women (up from 45 % in Beijing 2022).
Global Broadcast & Viewership Expectations
The Games are being broadcast in over 200 territories. Key broadcasters include RAI (Italy), NBCUniversal (United States), CBC/Radio-Canada (Canada), Eurosport/Discovery (Europe), Sony Pictures Networks (India) and beIN Sports (Middle East). Organisers project a global cumulative audience of 2.5–3 billion viewers across linear TV, streaming and digital platforms.
Conclusion
The Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are delivering a visually stunning showcase of winter sport against the backdrop of the Italian Alps and Milan’s urban elegance. With 116 medal events, new disciplines, strong sustainability credentials and a packed field of returning champions and rising stars, the Games are set to be one of the most compelling editions in recent history.
From Mikaela Shiffrin’s quest for Alpine skiing immortality to Norway’s pursuit of another dominant performance, and from home-crowd energy in Cortina to the global spectacle in Milan, the XXV Olympic Winter Games are living up to their promise as a celebration of athletic excellence, resilience and unity.