Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: complete guide

Event dates and context

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Italy from 6 to 22 February 2026, with competitions formally beginning with the qualifiers on 4 February. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place in Milan, at the San Siro Stadium, on 6 February, while the closing ceremony is set for 22 February.

This edition marks the third time that Italy has hosted the Winter Games, after Cortina in 1956 and Turin in 2006, and represents an important moment for our country in international sport.

📍 Geographical distribution of competitions

A distinctive feature of this edition is the ‘widespread Olympics’ model, with competitions spread across various areas in Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige.

Main locations and disciplines:

• Milan: ice competitions (hockey, figure skating and speed skating) and main ceremonies.
• Cortina d’Ampezzo: a central role for alpine skiing, curling and other snow sports.
• Bormio: historic downhill and slalom race course; designated as a key centre for technical trials.
• Antholz: biathlon competitions.
• Predazzo, Tesero and Livigno: venues for Nordic sports, freestyle, snowboarding and other specific disciplines.
• Verona: scheduled to host the closing ceremony.

This distribution allows existing and historic facilities to be enhanced and new dedicated infrastructure to be integrated.

Valtellina takes centre stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The Valtellina region will play a leading role in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, confirming its status as one of the key areas of the entire Olympic project. In particular, Bormio will host some of the most spectacular alpine skiing competitions, making use of the historic Stelvio slope, which has already been the venue for international competitions of the highest level. Alongside Bormio, Livigno will also play a central role, becoming the venue for snowboarding and freestyle competitions, disciplines that are very popular with younger audiences. The Olympic presence represents an important opportunity for Valtellina to enhance its tourism and infrastructure, with positive repercussions on the local economy, the property market and the attractiveness of the area in the long term. The Olympics will not only be a sporting event, but also a driving force for development in one of the most dynamic mountain areas in Lombardy.

Tickets: prices and how to purchase

Tickets for the 2026 Olympics are available exclusively through the Games’ official ticketing website (tickets.milanocortina2026.org); there are no other official sales channels.

Indicative price ranges:

• Qualifications: approximately €30–€90
• Technical discipline finals: approximately €80-€180
• Alpine skiing and skating finals: approximately €120–€450
• Opening and closing ceremonies: from €260 to over €2,000 for the best seats

Prices vary depending on the event, session and location of seats in the stands; for more popular events, the system offers different price categories.

Ticket availability is managed using a progressive system: as the Games draw nearer, demand increases and availability decreases.

Italian Olympic history and disciplines

From the first world edition in 1924 to the two previous Italian editions, the evolution of the sports programme and the importance of disciplines such as alpine skiing, luge, biathlon and skating are evident.

Furthermore, this edition includes both established Olympic sports and new disciplines that are growing in popularity.

Visitor experience and logistics

Attending the Olympics in person requires careful logistical planning, given the distance between the various competition venues.

Key organisational tips:

• Plan your journeys between Milan and Alpine resorts in advance.
• Take advantage of improved rail connections and dedicated bus services.
• Allow adequate travel time and plan alternatives in case of seasonal traffic.

The geographical complexity of the locations involved can make the visit an opportunity to combine watching the races with a broader tourist experience in the Italian Alps.

Conclusion

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are set to be a major sporting event with a significant impact on tourism, with an organisational model spread across several cities and mountain resorts, a range of ticket prices and a wide variety of Olympic disciplines on offer. This is a historic moment for Italy in the field of winter sports.

Source: “Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: the complete guide to venues, tickets and history”  (https://www.idealista.it/news/vacanze/mete-turistiche/2026/01/28/316785-olimpiadi-invernali-milano-cortina-2026-la-guida-completa-tra-sedi-biglietti-e?utm_campaign=news_bulk_national&utm_campaigntype=retention&utm_creation=316785_msvnews_sp_olimpiadiMilanoCortina2026_20260128&utm_date_send=2026-01-2810:07:56&utm_link=m1ImagenDestacadaNode316785&utm_medium=email&utm_project=leadGeneration&utm_recipient_id=ekyN7WNn1tUSY6NJrVNd0iMYCpTyCY/JESM0O3qNtHU=&utm_recipient_list=3&utm_source=rankings)