Where are the winter olympics this year? Milan and Cortina, Italy Feb 6

Where are the Winter Olympics this year? Milan and Cortina, Italy are hosting the Games from February 6 to 22, 2026. More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete across 16 Olympic disciplines in a historic dual-city hosting arrangement.

An Unprecedented Host City Partnership Across Italy

The 2026 Winter Olympics mark the first time in modern history that two cities nearly 200 miles apart will jointly host the Games. Milan, a bustling metropolitan hub, combines modern ice arenas with cultural vibrancy.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, a legendary ski destination in the Dolomites, provides world-class alpine facilities. This split arrangement allows 15 competition venues to be strategically distributed across multiple mountainous regions, from coastal-adjacent Verona to high-altitude Livigno.

The unique geography means athletes and spectators will experience Italy’s diverse landscapes, from urban energy in Milan to pristine alpine terrain in the north.

A Record-Breaking Games with Historic New Events

Ski mountaineering (also called “skimo”) makes its Olympic debut, featuring men’s and women’s sprints plus a mixed relay. The sport requires athletes to race uphill and downhill, alternating between skiing and running on foot.

Women’s athletes gain unprecedented representation with the introduction of the women’s large hill ski jumping event, ending decades of exclusion from this discipline. Additional new events include women’s doubles in luge, mixed team skeleton relay, men’s and women’s dual moguls, and team combined alpine skiing.

These additions boost Milano Cortina 2026 to achieve the highest percentage of gender-balanced events in Winter Olympics history.

Venue Breakdown and Territorial Distribution

Region	Key Sports	Venues
Milan	Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Speed Skating, Short Track	San Siro Stadium, Multiple Ice Arenas
Cortina d’Ampezzo	Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton, Curling	Cortina Sliding Centre, Tofane Alpine Centre
Livigno & Bormio	Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, Ski Mountaineering	Livigno Aerials Park, Stelvio Ski Centre
Nordic Regions	Cross-Country Skiing, Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined	Tesero, Predazzo, Anterselva

“More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will be competing for 195 medals in 16 Olympic disciplines and six Paralympic sports.”

Official Olympics.com

What Makes Milano Cortina 2026 Historically Significant

This Games represents Italy’s first Winter Olympics since Turin 2006. The mascots, Tina (for Cortina) and Milo (for Milano), symbolize the partnership between the two host cities.

Ticket prices range from $307 to $2,390 for the opening ceremony at San Siro, with digital-only access. The opening ceremony, titled “Armonia” (Harmony), will feature world-class performances celebrating Italian culture and Olympic spirit.

Beyond athletic competition, the Games showcase Italy’s world-class infrastructure, combining historic mountain venues with modern urban facilities across multiple regions.

Will These Winter Olympics Meet Evolving Global Expectations?

Milano Cortina 2026 arrives during a period of heightened focus on Olympic sustainability and inclusivity. The dual-city format demonstrates innovation in host city selection, reducing centralized construction costs while distributing economic benefits across multiple Italian regions.

With gender parity improvements through new women’s events and environmental considerations embedded in venue planning, Milano Cortina sets a precedent for future Winter Games. How spectators and athletes respond to this unprecedented geographic split will shape Olympic hosting models for decades to come.