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| Milano–Cortina 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Milano–Cortina 2026 |
| Host cities | Milano; Cortina d'Ampezzo |
| Nations | Italy |
| Opening | 6 February 2026 |
| Closing | 22 February 2026 |
| Athletes | ~2,600 |
| Sports | 7 sports, 15 disciplines |
| Stadium | San Siro (ceremonies); Olimpiadi Cortina venue set |
| Previous | Beijing 2022 |
| Next | Milwaukee–Lake Placid–Cortland 2030 |
Milano–Cortina 2026 is the XXV Olympic Winter Games awarded to Italy, scheduled from 6 to 22 February 2026, with ceremonies and events shared between Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Games unite historic venues such as San Siro, modern urban sites in Milan, alpine arenas in Veneto, and regional transport projects tied to Trenitalia and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. The candidature emphasised links to past Olympiads including Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 and infrastructure legacies from Turin 2006.
The candidature emerged amid continental competition that involved discussions within the International Olympic Committee and consultations with the European Olympic Committees. Italy’s proposal invoked coordination among municipal authorities in Milan, provincial administrations in Belluno, regional executives in Lombardy and Veneto, and the national cabinet led by the Italian Republic. The IOC Evaluation Commission, chaired by representatives of the International Paralympic Committee and former members of IOC Session delegations, produced a report citing transport plans referencing projects by Autostrade per l'Italia and airport upgrades at Milan Malpensa Airport and Venice Marco Polo Airport. With competing bids withdrawn or consolidated, the IOC Session in Lausanne endorsed the joint Italian bid by acclamation, echoing governance precedents from Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 selection processes.
Competition clusters were organized in urban, alpine and skating hubs: San Siro in Milan for ceremonies, Fiera Milano for ice sports, Cortina d'Ampezzo for alpine skiing, and the Val di Fiemme and Bormio valleys for Nordic and technical events. Upgrades included temporary installations around Rho Fiera and improvements to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza complex, coordinated with heritage bodies such as the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism. Transport enhancements involved high-speed rail lines managed by Trenitalia, highway works overseen by ANAS (Italy), and regional airport capacities at Milan Linate and Bolzano Airport. Environmental assessments referenced the European Environment Agency frameworks and collaborations with UNEP-aligned initiatives to reduce carbon footprints in alpine venues.
The program features seven Olympic sports across fifteen disciplines including Alpine skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross-country skiing, Figure skating, Freestyle skiing, Ice hockey, Luge, Nordic combined, Ski jumping, Short track speed skating, Skeleton, Snowboarding, and Speed skating. New event formats and gender-balanced quotas were aligned with recommendations from the IOC Olympic Programme Commission and athlete groups associated with World Anti-Doping Agency policies. National teams from established winter federations such as United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee, Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Russian Olympic Committee-related contingencies, and Japanese Olympic Committee delegations plan to compete, while international federations including the International Skating Union, International Ski Federation, and International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation oversee technical standards.
The Organising Committee, constituted with executives and sporting directors drawn from institutions such as CONI and municipal administrations of Milan and Belluno, structured budgets incorporating public and private funding. Major commercial partners included firms in sectors represented by Eni, Intesa Sanpaolo, Telecom Italia, and transportation companies like Trenord. Fiscal oversight referenced models used by IOC Coordination Commission and utilized financial safeguards involving national treasury instruments administered by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Italy). Cost-control measures evoked debates paralleling those during Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016, while insurance and contingency planning were developed with international reinsurers active in Lloyd's of London markets.
Branding and promotional campaigns combined Milanese design traditions from Triennale Milano with alpine cultural programming in Cortina d'Ampezzo, drawing on the creative sectors represented by Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana and partnerships with institutions like La Scala and Museo del Novecento. Sponsorship activations involved global partners that previously collaborated with Olympic Broadcasting Services and multinational advertisers linked to Coca-Cola and Visa (company)-style agreements. Cultural festivals, art commissions and public engagement projects integrated curatorial input from MAXXI and heritage projects aligned with UNESCO-related conservation dialogues, aiming to showcase Italian design icons such as works by Giorgio Armani, Gae Aulenti, and regional craftsmanship from the Dolomites.
Legacy planning emphasized reuse of existing arenas reflecting precedents from London 2012 and Barcelona 1992, conversion strategies for temporary structures to community sports centers, and tourism development for the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sustainability targets referenced the UN Sustainable Development Goals and carbon mitigation pathways consistent with UNFCCC commitments, integrating renewable energy initiatives with utility partners and public transport modal shifts favoring rail and electric fleets. Post-Games evaluations coordinated with national agencies including ISTAT and regional tourism boards to monitor economic impact, employment outcomes, and long-term infrastructural benefits for Lombardy and Veneto populations.