The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are officially under way. From 6 to 22 February, Italy is at the centre of the sporting world, with 16 days of competition spread across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, Bormio, Val di Fiemme, Anterselva and Verona. It is the third time Italy has hosted the Winter Games, after Cortina 1956 and Turin 2006.
The Olympic venues: Games spread across the north
Unlike earlier editions, Milano Cortina 2026 is a ‘spread-out’ Olympics: the events take place in towns and resorts across a huge area, from the Po Valley plain to the Alpine peaks. The idea is to make the most of existing venues and bring visitors to several different regions.
Milan: the city heart of the Games
The opening ceremony was held at San Siro Stadium, transformed into a spectacular arena for the occasion. Milan hosts:
- Figure skating and short track at the Forum in Assago
- Ice hockey at the PalaSharp and the Forum
The city is also home to the Olympic Village, in the former Porta Romana railway yard, where many of the athletes are staying.
Cortina d’Ampezzo: the queen of the Dolomites
Cortina d’Ampezzo is the Alpine heart of the Games. Events here include:
- Alpine skiing (giant slalom, super-G) on the Tofane
- Bobsleigh, skeleton and luge at the Cortina Sliding Centre (Eugenio Monti)
- Curling at the Cortina Olympic Stadium
Cortina’s Olympic history goes back to 1956, and the town has invested heavily in new facilities.
Bormio: the most spectacular downhill
The legendary Stelvio run in Bormio hosts:
- Men’s and women’s downhill
- Super-G and alpine combined
With a start at 3,262 metres and gradients of up to 63%, the Stelvio is considered one of the most technical and dangerous runs on the World Cup circuit. Find out more in our article on the Stelvio run.
Livigno: freestyle and snowboarding
Livigno, the ‘Little Tibet’ of the Alps, hosts the most spectacular events:
- Freestyle skiing (moguls, aerials, halfpipe, slopestyle, ski cross)
- Snowboarding (halfpipe, slopestyle, snowboard cross, big air)
The new Livigno Snow Park was built specially for the Games, with state-of-the-art facilities. Livigno’s duty-free status is a welcome bonus for visitors.
Val di Fiemme and Anterselva
Val di Fiemme in Trentino hosts cross-country skiing and ski jumping at the Lago di Tesero stadium. Anterselva in South Tyrol (Alto Adige), with its arena at 1,600 metres, is the biathlon venue.
Verona: the closing ceremony
The closing ceremony takes place on 22 February in the Arena di Verona, the famous Roman amphitheatre: a setting like no other, where sport meets two thousand years of history.
Schedule of the main events
Competitions run on all 16 days. These are the key dates for the most popular sports.
Alpine skiing (Cortina and Bormio)
| Date | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 9 February | Men’s downhill | Bormio - Stelvio |
| 10 February | Women’s super-G | Cortina - Tofane |
| 12 February | Men’s giant slalom | Cortina - Tofane |
| 14 February | Women’s downhill | Bormio - Stelvio |
| 16 February | Women’s slalom | Cortina - Tofane |
| 19 February | Alpine combined | Bormio |
| 22 February | Team event | Cortina |
Freestyle and snowboarding (Livigno)
Freestyle and snowboard events are concentrated between 7 and 21 February at the Livigno Snow Park, with qualifying rounds and finals mostly scheduled in the afternoon.
Biathlon (Anterselva)
The Anterselva arena, at 1,600 metres, hosts every biathlon race from 8 to 20 February, including the relays and individual races.
Getting to the Olympic venues
By train
The Valtellina railway has been fully upgraded with an investment of €38.9 million. The stations at Colico, Morbegno, Sondrio, Lecco and Tirano have been modernised. For Cortina, the fastest route is via Calalzo di Cadore, then a dedicated bus.
By car
The main routes are:
- Milan to Bormio: A4 motorway, then the SS38 Stelvio road (about 3 hours)
- Milan to Livigno: via the Bernina Pass or the Munt la Schera tunnel (about 3.5 hours)
- Venice to Cortina: A27 motorway, then the SS51 Alemagna road (about 2 hours)
- Verona to Val di Fiemme: A22 Brenner motorway, Egna-Ora exit (about 1.5 hours)
Olympic shuttles
During the Games, dedicated shuttle buses run between the main railway stations and the venues. Shuttle tickets are included in event packages or can be bought separately.
Investment in infrastructure
The Olympics have brought major investment:
- €38.9 million to upgrade the Valtellina railway
- Cortina Sliding Centre: over €100 million for the new bobsleigh track
- Livigno Snow Park: a new, purpose-built venue
- Roads: improvements on many of the connecting routes
Not all the planned works were finished on time. As of 22 January 2026, about 40 of the 98 projects had been completed, and many road and rail works are due to be finished after the Games. All the essential sports venues, however, are up and running.
Practical tips for visitors
Tickets and entry
Tickets for individual sessions are sold on the official website, olympics.com. Prices vary widely: from €30 for curling sessions up to €250 for alpine skiing finals.
Where to base yourself
The Olympic resorts are in peak season, so book well ahead. Cheaper alternatives can be found in the surrounding valleys:
- For Cortina: Cadore, Auronzo, San Vito di Cadore
- For Bormio: Valdidentro, Santa Caterina Valfurva
- For Livigno: Trepalle, Isolaccia
- For Anterselva: Rasun, Brunico
Don’t miss
Beyond the races, the ski areas nearby are well worth exploring while you are there:
- From Bormio: Passo Tonale is an hour’s drive away
- From Cortina: Arabba-Marmolada, for skiing towards the Sella Ronda
- From Livigno: the resort itself has 115 km of spectacular slopes
The Olympic legacy
These Games leave an important legacy for Italian skiing: new infrastructure, international exposure and a ‘spread-out Olympics’ model that others may follow. The resorts involved should benefit for years to come, with more visitors and better lifts.
To follow the Olympic resorts, check our resort pages with live webcams and up-to-date weather.
Where to stay
To plan your mountain holiday, see our guide to hotels and accommodation in Italian ski resorts. You will find detailed guides for each destination, with prices, the best areas to stay and practical tips for your ski holiday.
FAQ
When are the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics?
The Winter Olympic Games run from 6 to 22 February 2026, followed by the Paralympic Games from 6 to 15 March 2026.
Where is the opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympics is held at San Siro Stadium in Milan on 6 February 2026.
Which towns host the events?
The main venues are Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva and Val di Fiemme.
Can I ski at the resorts during the Olympics?
Yes. Most ski areas stay open to the public, except for the runs used for the races and some technical areas. Book well in advance, though.