Italy Finalizes Preparations for Historic Multi-City Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

A New Era for the Winter Games

Italy is putting the finishing touches on its preparations for the XXV Winter Olympic Games, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026. Scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026, these Games are poised to make history as the first Olympic Winter Games to be officially co-hosted by multiple cities. The innovative polycentric model will see events distributed across various clusters in Lombardy and Northeast Italy, including the main host cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The decision to adopt a multi-city approach aims to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and minimize new construction, aligning with a commitment to sustainability and reduced environmental impact. This strategy seeks to deliver a resource-efficient and operationally smart major sporting event.

Venues and Geographic Clusters

The Milano Cortina 2026 Games will feature a diverse array of venues spread across four primary geographic clusters:

• Milan Cluster: This metropolitan hub will host various ice events, including figure skating, short track speed skating, and ice hockey. The iconic Stadio San Siro in Milan is slated to host the Opening Ceremony. The Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and the Milano Ice Park (located within the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center) will be key venues for ice sports.
• Cortina d'Ampezzo Cluster: Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina will be the center for many snow sports. Events here include women's Alpine skiing (on the Tofane slopes), biathlon, sledding, and curling.
• Valtellina Cluster: Encompassing areas like Livigno and Bormio, this cluster will host freestyle skiing, snowboard events, and men's Alpine skiing (on the Stelvio). Notably, ski mountaineering will make its Olympic debut in this region.
• Val di Fiemme Cluster: This area, including Predazzo and Anterselva, is designated for ski jumping, Nordic combined, and cross-country skiing.

The Closing Ceremony for the Games is scheduled to take place at the historic Verona Arena on February 22, 2026.

Preparations and Logistical Considerations

As of late 2025 and early 2026, significant progress has been made on venue upgrades, with many permanent facilities largely complete and test events underway. However, some venues, such as the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, have experienced construction delays, prompting close monitoring by organizers who remain confident in their timely completion. The distributed nature of the Games also necessitates a complex logistical framework to manage athlete and spectator movement across the various sites.

In a move to enhance athlete experience, the Opening Ceremony on February 6, 2026, will be a multi-venue event, with elements unfolding simultaneously across Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno. This innovative approach aims to allow more athletes to participate in the ceremonial parade. To accommodate the athletes, six Olympic Villages will be established across Northern Italy, utilizing a combination of new, temporary, and existing facilities tailored to each location.