For 102 years, the Winter Olympics have united people, cultures, and countries from across the globe to compete in one of the world’s biggest winter sports events. Now for the first time in history, the 2026 Winter Olympics will be co-hosted by two cities.
Milan, famous for its colorful art, rich history, and iconic fashion scene, will partner with Cortina d’Ampezzo, a cozy alpine town in the heart of the Dolomite valley, known for its mountain scenery and world-class ski slopes, to deliver the games this February.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
When Will the Games Start and End?
The Winter Olympics will begin today, February 6th, with the Opening Ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Olympic Stadium. Over 3,000 athletes from more than 90 countries will be in attendance, as they prepare to represent their nation in the upcoming weeks. The evening will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic Flame, officially commencing the games.
Over the span of two weeks, athletes will play their hardest to earn glory for themselves and their countries. On February 22, 2026, the Winter Olympics will come to a close with the Closing Ceremony at the Arena di Verona in Verona. There, the Olympic Flame will be extinguished, marking the end of the games. At both ceremonies, you can expect a mix of Italian cultural performances, including art, music, and history, as they celebrate the honor and pride of hosting the Olympic Games.
You can watch both of these events at 2:00 p.m. ET and 2:30 p.m. ET, respectively, on NBC.
Where and What Sports Will Be Played?
The Winter Olympics will feature 16 different sports, including men’s, women’s, and team events, for a grand total of 116 medal events. Since the games will be co-hosted, the sports will be split between the two cities, as Milan will host most indoor sports, while Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the outdoor alpine sports. Along with this, a few events will be held outside Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the nearby cities of Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva, and Val di Fiemme.
Milan: Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, and Short Track Speed Skating.
Cortina d’Ampezzo: Women’s Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Luge, and Curling.
Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva, and Val di Fiemme: Men’s Alpine Skiing, Snowboard, Biathlon, Freestyle Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, and Ski Mountaineering.
You can watch all these sports on NBC and find the dates and times for each on the official Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics website.
What to Expect and Who to Watch for the US at the Winter Olympics
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the United States finished fifth in the total medal count with 25 medals, falling short of the top three: Norway led with 37 medals, followed by the Russian Olympic Committee with 32 and Germany with 27. In 2026, the US is looking to bounce back as it is sending 232 athletes to the Milano-Cortina Games, the most athletes America has ever sent to the Winter Olympics, according to Reuters.
When talking about the Winter Olympics, it’s impossible not to mention Mikela Shiffrin as she’s widely regarded as the greatest alpine skier ever. Even with all her success over the last few decades, Shiffrin struggled in Beijing, failing to place in any medal event in 2022. In fact, she hasn’t been on an Olympic podium since 2018. Despite her past failures, Shiffrin is set on making Milano-Cortina a redemption tour to show the world why she’s still the best in the game.
Another name you can’t forget is Chloe Kim. After winning a gold medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Kim has since become one of the world’s best snowboarders. But earlier this month, she made headlines when it was reported that she dislocated her shoulder during a routine practice. This put Kim at risk of missing the Olympics entirely, leaving her gold medal in Beijing potentially undefended. But earlier this week, it was announced that Kim would be competing in Italy, giving Team USA a huge sigh of relief.
Lastly, among those athletes is Lindsey Vonn, who is making a surprise return to the Olympics after retiring in 2019 following serious knee complications. The last time Vonn played in the Olympics was in PyeongChang in 2018, where she won bronze in skiing. But after getting knee surgery in 2024, she is now back in action, likely for her last Olympic appearance.
Some other USA athletes to watch include Jordan Stolz, a speedskater competing in his second Olympic Games after winning multiple World Championship events in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m distances. Auston Matthews, the current captain of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and one of hockey’s best goal scorers, will lead Team USA’s ice hockey team in his first Olympics as the NHL is allowing its players to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time since 2014. Finally, Alysa Liu is a World Champion figure skater known for being the first American woman to land a quadruple jump and triple axel in competition. In her second Olympic Games, she aims to secure a podium spot and a medal for the first time in her career.
You can learn more about these athletes, along with all of the 232 athletes going to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, on the Team USA website.
Well, that’s about everything you need to know about the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. I hope that you’re ready to see some of the best athletes from around the world compete, because I know I can’t wait to see what unfolds!