The 2026 Winter Olympics are getting closer: From February 6th to 22nd, Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and other places in northern Italy will transform the Alpine region into the largest winter sports stage in the world. They are the XXV. Olympic Winter Games – with new competitions, major logistical challenges and special locations for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The major event is held over a huge area: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno, Predazzo, Tesero, Antholz and Verona are among the venues. This makes the games more decentralized than ever before. The area in which the competitions take place covers around 22,000 square kilometers.
The opening ceremony will take place on February 6th in the legendary San Siro Stadfon in Milan, the closing ceremony on February 22nd in the historic Arena in Verona. The Paralympics will follow from March 6th to 15th, 2026.
Disciplines, sports and participants at the 2026 Olympics
16 sports are planned with a total of 116 decisions (54 for men, 50 for women, 12 mixed competitions). Around 3,500 athletes from around 90 nations are expected, with a total of 245 gold, 245 silver and 245 bronze medals at stake. Germany is currently planning to have almost 90 athletes in seven disciplines – it would be the 14th participation since reunification.
New sports and competitions 2026
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has added eight new decisions to the program. These include ski mountaineering with sprint and mixed relay competitions, mixed team skeleton, women’s doubles in tobogganing, women’s ski jumping on the large hill and the new dual moguls in freestyle skiing. The aim is to make the games younger, more dynamic and more balanced.
NHL stars celebrate Olympic comeback in ice hockey
The Olympic ice hockey tournament promises to be a highlight: the stars from the NHL will be competing again for the first time since 2014. The first nominations have already been made and fans can look forward to a “Best on Best” tournament. Big names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel or Leon Draisaitl could shape the tournament.
Tickets for Milan-Cortina 2026 – prices, sales, quotas
Tickets are sold exclusively via the games’ official platform. Prices start at around 30 euros, more than half of all tickets cost less than 100 euros. For the Paralympics the base is 15 euros, more expensive seats can cost up to 1,400 euros.
Sales will run in several phases: Pre-registrations and an early ticket lottery started at the beginning of 2025. General sales for the Olympics began on April 8, 2025, and for the Paralympics in March 2025 – in each case on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of 25 tickets are possible per account; for particularly popular programs (e.g. opening ceremony) only 4 tickets per account.
ARD, ZDF: How Germany can see the 2026 Winter Games
ARD and ZDF have secured the free TV rights for the 2026 Olympics through the EBU. The rights are valid until 2032 and were awarded by the IOC together with Warner Bros. Discovery and the EBU. ARD/ZDF show the Winter Games freely available in Germany.
Infrastructure, preparation and problems in Italy
Italy is in the middle of preparations – with an investment volume of around 3.5 billion euros. There is much discussion about the new construction of the toboggan and bobsleigh run in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Delays cause uncertainty, and Lake Placid (USA) is available as an emergency solution. Artificial snowmaking also remains a sensitive issue – given the increasingly low-snow winters in the Alps.
Olympic Torch Relay 2026: “The Greatest Journey”
The fire will be lit in Olympia (Greece) on November 26, 2025. From there, the journey begins through all 110 provinces of Italy – 12,000 kilometers in total – before the opening ceremony in Milan on February 6, 2026 marks the official start of the Winter Games. The motto of the torch relay: “The Greatest Journey”.
FAQ – Olympia 2026 at a glance
When and where do the games take place?
From February 6th to 22nd, 2026 in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and other locations in northern Italy.
Where are the opening and closing ceremonies?
The opening ceremony will take place at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, the closing ceremony at the Verona Arena.
Who broadcasts it in Germany?
ARD and ZDF show the Winter Games on free TV and live stream.
How much do tickets cost?
From 30 euros, many tickets under 100 euros, up to 1,400 euros for premium offers.
Since when have tickets been available and how many can you buy?
Pre-registration/lotting process, general sales since April 8, 2025 (Olympics) or March 2025 (Paralympics). Up to 25 tickets per account possible, a maximum of 4 for highlights such as the opening ceremony. Lionk to the official ticket page: tickets.milanocortina2026.org
How many athletes and medals?
Around 3,500 participants compete for 195 medals in 16 sports.
What’s new in the program?
Eight new competitions, including ski mountaineering, mixed team skeleton and women’s large hill ski jumping.
How big is the competition area?
The games are spread over more than 22,000 square kilometers – the Olympics have never been so extensive.
What challenges are there?
The construction of the bobsleigh track in Cortina d’Ampezzo is delayed, and climate change is also presenting the organizers with major snow security problems.
What about ice hockey?
The NHL returns – an absolute highlight for fans.
How is Germany represented?
With almost 90 athletes in seven sports, it would be the 14th Olympic participation since reunification.
