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The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 represents something unprecedented in Olympic history, the first Winter Games officially co-hosted by two cities, spreading world-class competition across the stunning landscapes of Northern Italy. From Milan’s urban sophistication to Cortina d’Ampezzo’s legendary Alpine slopes, this celebration brings together 3,500 athletes from 93 nations across eight distinct territories. The 2026 Winter Olympics host city collaboration showcases Italy’s diverse geography while demonstrating how existing infrastructure can host sustainable Olympic Games without massive new construction.
Winter Olympics 2026 Dates
When are the Winter Olympics 2026? The Winter Olympics 2026 dates run from February 6-22, 2026, spanning 17 days of competition across 116 medal events. Competitions actually begin February 4 with preliminary rounds, while the Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony launches the official festivities on February 6 at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium.
When do the Winter Olympics start 2026 for specific sports? Alpine skiing opens February 8 at Cortina’s Tofane slopes. Figure skating begins on February 6 at Mediolanum Forum. Ice hockey starts February 5 with preliminary rounds. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics dates strategically schedule marquee events, including finals in skiing, hockey, and figure skating, during the second week to build momentum through the Games.
2026 Winter Olympics Location: Multi-City Setup
Where are Winter Olympics 2026? The 2026 Winter Olympics location spans eight territories across Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige regions. This makes Milano Cortina 2026 the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics ever, requiring careful logistics but offering visitors unmatched variety.
The location of Winter Olympics 2026 territories:
- Milano – Ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, short track (5 venues)
- Cortina d’Ampezzo – Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, curling (3 venues)
- Valtellina (Bormio/Livigno) – Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding (3 venues)
- Val di Fiemme (Predazzo/Tesero) – Cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined (2 venues)
- Anterselva/Antholz – Biathlon (1 venue)
- Verona – Closing ceremony at historic Arena di Verona (1 venue)
Milan to Cortina: Understanding the Geography
How far is Cortina from Milan? The distance Milan to Cortina d’Ampezzo measures approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles), requiring 4.5-5 hours by car via A4 and SR48 highways. The Milan Cortina Olympics organizers have enhanced transport connections specifically for the Games.
Transport options Milan to Cortina:
- Direct Olympic shuttle buses – Reserved for ticket holders, connecting major venues
- Train to Venice + bus – 2.5 hours Milan-Venice, then 2.5 hours Venice-Cortina
- Private car/rental – Most flexible but parking extremely limited at venues
- Helicopter transfers – Premium option offered in some hospitality packages
Most visitors attending events in both cities should plan at least one overnight stay in Cortina or nearby Dolomite towns, as same-day round-trips prove exhausting given mountain road conditions in February.
Winter Olympics 2026 Schedule: Key Events
The Winter Olympics 2026 schedule features 116 medal events across 16 disciplines. Competition density peaks February 15-19 with multiple finals daily. Here are the schedule highlights:
Opening Week (February 6-11)
Figure skating team event, speed skating mass start, and snowboarding slopestyle provide early medal opportunities. Alpine skiing officially starts February 8 with women’s downhill at Cortina. Ski jumping begins February 7 at Predazzo. The opening week establishes rhythm while venues accommodate arriving spectators.
Peak Week (February 12-18)
Medal events accelerate dramatically. Figure skating singles finals (February 13-15), alpine skiing combined events (February 14-16), and cross-country skiing marathons (February 16-17) dominate schedules. Ice hockey semifinals occur February 18-19, building toward gold medal games February 21-22.
Closing Days (February 19-22)
The final weekend concentrates premier finals: men’s hockey gold (February 22), four-man bobsleigh (February 21), and cross-country 50km marathon (February 22). The closing ceremony at Verona’s Arena di Verona celebrates the Games’ conclusion on February 22 at 20:00 CET.
Milan Winter Olympics 2026: Sport-by-Sport Venues
| Sport/Discipline | Venue | Location |
| Alpine Skiing | Tofane/Stelvio Centers | Cortina/Bormio |
| Ice Hockey | Santa Giulia/Rho Arenas | Milano |
| Figure Skating | Mediolanum Forum | Milano |
| Speed Skating | Fiera Milano Temporary Rink | Milano |
| Bobsleigh/Luge | Cortina Sliding Centre | Cortina d’Ampezzo |
| Biathlon | Anterselva Arena | Anterselva/Antholz |
| Ski Jumping | Predazzo Stadium | Val di Fiemme |
| Cross-Country | Tesero Stadium | Val di Fiemme |
Winter Olympics 2026 Events: New Additions
The Winter Olympics 2026 events introduce ski mountaineering as the newest Olympic discipline. The 2026 Winter Olympics sports roster also adds women’s doubles luge, women’s large hill ski jumping, mixed team skeleton, dual moguls in freestyle skiing, and team combined alpine skiing, expanding opportunities for athletes and creating fresh storylines.
Ski mountaineering (“skimo”) perfectly suits the 2026 Winter Olympics Milan events setting in the Dolomites. Athletes race uphill on skis with climbing skins, transition to downhill mode, and repeat across challenging Alpine terrain. The sport’s inclusion reflects the IOC’s push toward sustainability, skimo requires minimal infrastructure beyond natural mountain landscapes.
Winter Olympics 2026 Hockey: NHL Returns
Winter Olympics 2026 hockey marks the NHL’s return to Olympic competition after missing PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. The Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena and Rho Arena host all matches from February 5-22, with men’s finals February 22 and women’s finals February 19.
Tournament format features 12 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams in preliminary round-robin groups. Top teams advance to knockout playoffs culminating in gold medal games. The NHL pauses its season February 5-22, allowing stars like Connor McDavid (Canada), Auston Matthews (USA), and Roman Josi (Switzerland) to compete representing their nations.
Construction delays at Santa Giulia Arena raised concerns through 2025, but organizers confirmed completion with reduced initial capacity, approximately 12,000 seats rather than planned 15,000. Full capacity expansion continues post-Games when the venue becomes a permanent Milan sports facility.
Winter Olympics 2026 Tickets: Purchasing Guide
Winter Olympics 2026 tickets are available exclusively through tickets.milanocortina2026.org, the official platform. All tickets are digital-only, delivered via the Milano Cortina 2026 mobile app. Physical tickets will not be issued under any circumstances.
Ticket Categories and Pricing
Opening ceremony tickets: €150-900 depending on San Siro seating sections. Closing ceremony at Verona Arena: €120-700. Alpine skiing sessions: €30-180. Ice hockey preliminary rounds: €40-150; finals €100-400. Figure skating finals: €80-350. Speed skating: €25-120. Most events offer family packages at discounted rates.
Purchase Process
Register on the official platform to access the ticket lottery system for high-demand events. Additional tickets release every Wednesday at 16:00 CET throughout January-February 2026. Maximum 25 tickets per person across all events. Payment accepts major credit cards via Visa (official payment partner).
2026 Winter Olympics Travel Packages
2026 Winter Olympics travel packages through official hospitality provider On Location offer bundled experiences combining tickets, accommodation, and exclusive perks. Packages range from single-day VIP experiences (€800-2,000) to comprehensive 7-day itineraries (€5,000-15,000 per person).
Package Components
Premium packages include guaranteed tickets to multiple events, 4-5 star hotel accommodation in Milan or Cortina, shuttle transport between venues, hospitality lounge access with food and beverages, guided tours of Olympic sites, and meet-and-greet opportunities with athletes or Olympic legends.
Regional Packages
Milano packages focus on ice sports, hockey, figure skating, speed skating. Cortina packages emphasize alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge. Val di Fiemme packages target Nordic skiing enthusiasts. Multi-region packages allow experiencing diverse events across territories with coordinated accommodation and transport.
Accommodation and Travel Planning
Where to Stay
Milan offers extensive accommodation options from budget hostels (€40-80/night) to luxury hotels (€300-800/night). Book 6-12 months ahead as Olympic demand inflates prices significantly. Airbnb provides alternatives in residential neighborhoods well-connected by metro.
Cortina d’Ampezzo and Dolomite resort towns fill quickly, traditional peak ski season coincides with Olympics. Expect €150-500/night for standard hotels. Consider nearby towns like Dobbiaco or San Vito di Cadore (20-40 minutes from Cortina venues) for better availability and moderate pricing.
Transportation
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) serves as the primary international gateway, 50km from city center. Leonardo Express trains connect airport to Milano Centrale station (€13, 50 minutes). Milan’s extensive metro system (M1, M2, M3 lines) reaches most venues.
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) provides alternative access for Cortina-focused visits. Buses run from Venice to Cortina (2.5 hours, €25-35). During the Olympics, special shuttle services connect major venues; these require advance booking and proof of event tickets.
Weather Considerations
February temperatures: Milan 2-8°C (35-46°F), Cortina -5 to 3°C (23-37°F). Alpine venues significantly colder with wind chill. Pack layered clothing including waterproof outer shells, insulated jackets, winter boots with traction, gloves, and thermal base layers. Outdoor venue spectators endure multi-hour exposure, dress appropriately.
Luggage Storage with Radical Storage
Attending multiple Olympic venues across Northern Italy creates luggage challenges, checking out of Milan hotels to catch afternoon events in Cortina, or arriving in Italy before hotel check-in. Radical Storage solves these problems with secure locations throughout Milan, Verona, Venice, and near major train stations.
Drop bags for €5 per item daily with €3,000 security coverage, then explore venues hands-free before catching late trains or continuing to next destinations. Book instantly via mobile app, with extended Olympic hours at strategic locations near Olympic shuttle pickup points and major transport hubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes for Milan-based venues (all within metro reach). No for inter-city combinations, Milan to Cortina requires 4-5 hours transport each direction.
Yes, children need their own tickets regardless of age. Family sections available at many venues with amenities like heated areas and kid-friendly food.
English is widely spoken at Olympic venues, hotels, and major transport hubs. Mobile apps provide translation. Basic Italian phrases enhance the experience but aren’t essential.
Large bags, outside food/drink, professional cameras with detachable lenses, drones, and laser pointers banned. Expect airport-style security screening.
The official resale platform allows transfers, but the tickets are non-refundable. Unofficial resales risk cancellation, all tickets digitally verified and tied to the purchaser’s identity.
Final Thoughts
Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 offers an unprecedented Olympic experience, blending Italy’s urban sophistication with Alpine majesty across eight distinct territories. From witnessing NHL stars return to Olympic ice hockey at Milano Santa Giulia Arena to watching elite Alpine racers attack Cortina’s legendary slopes, these Games deliver moments unavailable anywhere else.
Success requires early planning, secure tickets through official channels, book accommodation 6-12 months ahead, understand the multi-city geography, and prepare for February mountain weather. Whether attending opening ceremonies at San Siro, catching figure skating at Mediolanum Forum, or experiencing the new ski mountaineering competition in the Dolomites, Milano Cortina 2026 promises Olympic memories framed by Northern Italy’s incomparable beauty.