olimpic games 2026

The 2026 Winter Olympics are coming to Italy’s Alps, and excitement is building worldwide. Set for Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, these Games mark Italy’s fourth time hosting the Winter Olympics—Cortina first held them in 1956, and Turin in 2006. This will be the first time one country hosts Winter Games twice through different cities, a neat bit of history for the region.

A Look at the Host Cities: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo

The IOC awarded the 2026 Games to Italy at their June 2019 session in Lausanne. Milan, Italy’s fashion and design capital, will host the opening and closing ceremonies at San Siro Stadium, which is being adapted for the occasion. Most indoor venues—ice hockey, the Olympic Village—will be there too.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, tucked into the Dolomites, will handle the outdoor alpine events. The region already has solid ski infrastructure from the 1956 Games, which helps explain why organizers chose to reuse and upgrade existing facilities rather than build everything from scratch.

A few other venues round things out. Bormio, known for its difficult World Cup ski runs, gets alpine skiing. Livigno hosts cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ski jumping. This distributed approach keeps costs down and fits the IOC’s recent push for sustainability.

Venue Construction and Preparation Updates

Work on venues has moved forward, though tight timelines have been challenging. Italy initially submitted cost estimates the IOC considered too high, so projects got reworked. The new plan leans heavily on temporary structures and existing facilities—a more practical approach than the mega-construction often associated with Olympics.

San Siro Stadium has undergone renovations to handle Olympic ceremonies, including special staging areas and technical infrastructure. The venue’s capacity and accessibility have also been updated.

In Cortina, the 1956 facilities have been upgraded to meet modern standards. The Cortina Ice Stadium expanded. Starting facilities and safety measures were added to ski slopes. The Dolomites make for a pretty dramatic backdrop without much artificial enhancement.

Olympic Village construction is underway in both cities. These will house athletes during the Games, then convert to permanent housing afterward—a common approach now, meant to avoid the abandoned “white elephant” venues that have plagued past hosts.

Competition Format and New Additions

The 2026 Games bring some notable format changes. Women’s ice hockey expands from 8 to 12 teams, matching the men’s tournament. The IIHF announced this in 2022 after talks with the IOC. More teams means more countries get a real shot at qualifying.

Some snowboarding and freestyle skiing events got tweaks to improve competition flow and viewer engagement. Climbing, skateboarding, and surfing—Tokyo 2020 additions—aren’t in the Winter Games program. Whether they return someday is still being discussed.

The program includes 116 medal events across 15 disciplines, slightly adjusted from Beijing 2022.

Sustainability and Environmental Considerations

Sustainability has been a major focus for 2026, especially given climate concerns affecting winter sports. Italy’s bid promised “lean” Games with minimal environmental impact and lasting community benefits.

Snow management is a big deal. Natural snowfall is increasingly unreliable, so organizers invested in advanced snowmaking and storage systems that preserve artificial snow from earlier in winter. Higher-elevation venues stay colder naturally, making outdoor events more predictable.

Construction projects went through environmental impact assessments. The Dolomites are ecologically sensitive, so work schedules accounted for local wildlife and habitat protection.

Transportation got upgrades too. Better rail links between Milan, Cortina, and other venues cut road reliance. The Olympic vehicle fleet includes electric and hybrid options. These improvements should benefit year-round tourism in the region long after the Games end.

Economic Impact and Local Communities

The Games bring billions in investment to northern Italy. Infrastructure—roads, rail, telecom—should serve local communities for decades. Construction and hospitality have created thousands of jobs.

Hotels, restaurants, and service providers are gearing up for an influx of visitors. Estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of tourists during the Olympic period. Businesses have been upgrading facilities and training staff.

Not everyone is thrilled, though. Some residents worry about property values rising and tourism infrastructure crowding out local needs. The organizing committee launched affordable housing and community programs to address this, though debates about who actually benefits continue.

The long-term economic picture depends on post-Olympic planning. Turin 2006 is instructive—the city initially struggled with its venues but eventually built a winter sports tourism industry that now draws millions annually. Milan and Cortina want to follow that path while learning from Turin’s stumbles.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in 2026

As February 2026 nears, anticipation is building. The torch relay will cross Italy before the opening ceremony. Over 90 nations will compete.

Viewers at home get improved broadcast tech. Virtual and augmented reality options will offer new ways to watch, alongside traditional coverage through major networks and streaming platforms.

The medal race should feature the usual suspects—Norway, Germany, the United States, Canada—as well as a motivated host nation Italy. Snowboarding and freestyle skiing continue evolving, with new talent regularly emerging to challenge established names.

The 2026 Games also test whether sustainability-focused, legacy-minded hosting can actually work. Italy’s approach—leaner construction, existing venues, temporary structures—could become a model for future Winter Olympics facing similar constraints and climate pressures.

The stage is set. Preparations are accelerating. In February 2026, the world will watch the Italian Alps host winter sports at their highest level.