Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Enter Final Year of Preparation

The Games will span Northern Italy, featuring NHL players' return and new events, but logistical and construction challenges remain.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6-22 across multiple locations in Northern Italy, with the Paralympics following from March 6-15.
Events will be spread over eight sites, with Milan hosting indoor competitions and Cortina d'Ampezzo holding key Alpine and sliding events, though distances between venues pose logistical challenges.
The sliding track in Cortina and the Arena Santa Giulia in Milan are still under construction, with contingency plans in place if the facilities are not completed on time.
NHL players will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, heightening excitement for the men's hockey tournament alongside the debut of the PWHL era.
New events include ski mountaineering, a mixed relay in skeleton, and a team Alpine combined event, while gender parity continues to improve, with women making up 47% of athletes.