The Opening Ceremony
Milano Cortina 2026 kicked off with a bang on Friday 6th February and the celebration of winter sports will continue until Sunday 22nd February. The ceremony took place at the Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium, with the great and the good performing, including Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and others.
How long the 2026 Winter Olympics last?
There are two weeks of full-on sport. To view the schedule, the best place to keep up to date with all the news is the Olympics’ own website.
Medal league table
We will soon be hooked on which country has the most medals and our go-to-resource is the BBC.
Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics being held?
The 2026 Winter Olympics are being held in the Dolomites, with two host cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo and events taking place in northern Italy. Key venues include the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena near the Austrian border, the Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park in the Livigno Valley, the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, and the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the Val di Fiemme.
New sports
Ski mountaineering (called skimo) is the only new sport being added to the roster. It’s one of the oldest winter sports, skiing done the old-fashioned way, where competitors race up and downhill with special skis and climbing skins. The competition is for individuals and team relay.
Where can I watch the 2026 Winter Olympics?
You'll find coverage on major channels, both free and subscription. These are our go-tos, needless to say with the BBC heading the list.
BBC One and BBC Two (Free-to-Air)
The BBC will broadcast a significant amount of coverage of the Winter Olympics on BBC One and BBC Two, particularly the main events and highlights each day. Coverage typically runs from around 9 a.m. to around 10 p.m. with a mix of live competition, commentary, and highlights. Additional Winter Olympics content is available via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website/app through the “Olympics Extra” live stream, showing additional events not on main TV channels.
TNT Sports (Subscription)
TNT Sports holds the main UK broadcasting rights and will show comprehensive live coverage of every event, from start to finish. TNT Sports 2 is the principal channel for daily coverage starting early each morning. Additional TNT Sports channels (e.g., TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4) and Discovery+ provide extra live feeds and even wider event coverage.
Discovery+ (Streaming with Subscription)
Discovery+ is linked with TNT Sports and lets subscribers stream live feeds of Olympic events on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers. It’s often a cost-effective way to follow action around the clock, including events not broadcast on linear TV.
What are the teams wearing?
Forget the sports side for the moment and indulge your inner fashionista to see the uniforms the teams are wearing. Who has designed them, which ones are the best? Read Vogue's article here.
Who is in Team GB
Check out all the comptetitors in Team GB and follow them on Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions: Winter Olympics 2026 (Milano-Cortina)
1. When and where are the 2026 Winter Olympics taking place?
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games run from 6 thFebruary to 22nd February 2026 in northern Italy, hosted across multiple cities including Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno, Val di Fiemme, Tesero, Predazzo, and Verona for the closing ceremony.
2. Where will events be held?
There are fifteen official competition venues including ice arenas and outdoor sporting venues for skiing, sliding sports, and ice events.
Examples include:
• Olympic Ice Stadium: Cortina curling and sliding events
• Milano Speed Skating Stadium: Speed skating
• Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena: Ice hockey & para ice hockey
• Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre: Alpine skiing runs
• Anterselva Biathlon Arena: Biathlon events
3. How many sports and events are included?
The Games feature sixteen winter sports with a total of approximately 116 medal events across disciplines like skiing, skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, biathlon, luge, and more.
4. Are there any new sports or events in 2026?
Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut, and there are new events such as:
• Women’s doubles luge
• Mixed team skeleton
• Women’s large hill ski jumping
• Dual moguls (men & women)
Team combined in Alpine skiing
5. Where can I watch the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics?
Broadcast and streaming rights vary by country. The Games will be televised around the world through local broadcasters and streaming partners. Check with your local Olympic broadcaster for details on channels and schedules.
6. What about the Opening and Closing Ceremonies?
The official Opening Ceremony took place on 6th February 2026 at San Siro Stadium in Milan. The Closing Ceremony is scheduled for 22nd February 2026.
7. How many athletes participate?
Approximately 2,900 athletes from around 90 countries will be competing at Milano-Cortina 2026.
How many Olympic Villages are there?
Unlike many Games, Milano-Cortina 2026 doesn’t have a single Olympic village — athletes will stay in multiple villages in Milan, Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo, and Anterselva, closer to each sport’s venue.
