The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially called Milano-Cortina 2026, is a major global sporting event taking place in Italy. Instead of being held in just one city, the games are spread across several Italian cities and mountain regions to ensure the best possible conditions for each sport.
Where and When?
- Location: The events are hosted in Milan (Milano), Cortina d’Ampezzo, and other mountain areas like Val di Fiemme and Verona.
- Dates: The games take place in February 2026.
- Ceremonies: The event begins with an Opening Ceremony and ends with a Closing Ceremony later in the month.
How the Schedule Works
The official schedule is organized to help you find specific events easily.
- Sessions: Events are split into morning, afternoon, and evening slots.
- Types: The schedule clearly marks whether an event is a qualification round or a “Medal Event” (where winners are decided).
- Categories: It lists competitions for Men, Women, and Mixed Teams.
Key Sports and Schedules
1. Alpine Skiing (Cortina) This includes the famous high-speed downhill races.
- Events: Downhill, Slalom, and Giant Slalom.
- Timing: Races usually have two runs—one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
2. Ice Hockey (Milan) Ice hockey is one of the most popular events.
- Teams: Both Men’s and Women’s tournaments.
- Timing: Matches often happen in the evening, leading up to the Gold Medal games at the end of the Olympics.
3. Figure Skating (Milan) This is a crowd favorite featuring music and dance on ice.
- Events: Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance.
- Timing: The final performances for medals are usually held in the evening.
4. Biathlon (Anterselva) This sport combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting.
- Timing: Most races happen in the afternoon to ensure the best lighting for shooting targets.
5. Curling (Cortina) Curling matches happen every day throughout the Olympics.
- Structure: Teams play “Round Robin” matches (everyone plays everyone) before moving to the finals.
6. Speed Skating (Milan)
- Long Track: Races against the clock on a large oval track.
- Short Track: Very fast, aggressive racing in a pack on a smaller track. These events usually have qualifiers and finals on the same day.
7. Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing Held in the mountain areas of Valtellina and Livigno, these events are known for tricks and jumps.
- Events: Halfpipe, Big Air, and Slopestyle.
8. Nordic Sports
- Cross-Country Skiing: Long-distance races.
- Ski Jumping: Athletes jump for distance and style.
- Nordic Combined: A mix of skiing and jumping.
9. Sliding Sports (Cortina) These are the high-speed sledding events: Bobsleigh, Skeleton, and Luge.
New Addition: Ski Mountaineering For the first time, Ski Mountaineering will be an Olympic sport. It involves climbing up a mountain on skis and then skiing back down.
Why the Schedule Is Important
With so many events happening at the same time in different cities, the schedule helps fans know exactly when to watch. It also helps athletes prepare and broadcasters plan which events to show live on TV.