In 2026, we will host a momentous sporting event: the XXV Winter Olympic Games. Given the unique format of the previous editions, which took place in the challenging COVID-19 year of 2022, the upcoming event is attracting particular attention. We offer a detailed look at where and when the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held, what sports will be represented, and whether Russia, as a country, can participate under its flag.
Date and place of the event
The Winter Olympics are traditionally held every four years. The last edition of the competition took place in Beijing, North Korea, and was accompanied by unprecedented security measures due to the raging coronavirus outbreak.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held from 06.02.26 to 22.02.26 in Italy, but the venue will not be limited to one city.
Previously, the following countries hosted winter international competitions:
| Year | Country | City |
| 2002 | USA | Salt Lake City |
| 2006 | Italy | Turin |
| 2010 | Canada | Vancouver |
| 2014 | Russia | Sochi |
| 2018 | South Korea | Pyeongchang |
| 2022 | China | Beijing |
The bidding process for the 2026 Winter Olympics began on March 16, 2017. Applications for the competitive selection process opened on that day. Initially, 24 participants expressed their desire to host the competition, but ultimately the competition was between Sweden and Italy. Italy's official hosting decision for the 2026 Olympics was announced on June 24, 2019, during the 134th IOC Session held in Switzerland.
The main cities that will host the 2026 Winter Olympics will be the capital Milan and a winter resort Cortina d'Ampezzo, located at an altitude of 1200 meters in the province of Veneto (the center of the Dolomites).
Olympic venues
The full list of Italian sports facilities planned for use covers three regions of Italy and includes both ski slopes located on mountain slopes and Olympic sports complexes (indoor and outdoor) operating in the country's largest cities.
The competition is planned to be held at the following venues:
| № | Object | Location | Sports, events |
| 1 | San Siro Stadium« | Milano | opening ceremony
figure skating |
| 2 | Arena "PalaItalia Santa Giulia"« | Milano | hockey |
| 3 | Arena "Pala Trussardi"« | Milano | hockey |
| 4 | Mediolanum Forum Arena« | Assago | short track
figure skating |
| 5 | Pista Stelvio slopes« | Valtellina (Bormio resort, Lombardy) | ski mountaineering
alpine skiing |
| 6 | Mottolino/Sitas-Tagliede/Carosello 3000 slopes« | Valtellina (Livigno resort, Lombardy) | freestyle
snowboard |
| 7 | The Olimpia delle Tofane Slope« | Cortina d'Ampezzo | alpine skiing |
| 8 | South Tyrol Arena« | Anholz, Cortina d'Ampezzo | biathlon |
| 9 | The Eugenio Monti Circuit« | Cortina d'Ampezzo | luge
bobsled skeleton |
| 10 | Olympic Stadium | Cortina d'Ampezzo | curling |
| 11 | Giuseppe Dal Ben Stadium« | Val di Fiemme, Predazzo | Nordic combined
ski jumping |
| 12 | Lago di Tesero Stadium« | Val di Fiemme, Tesero | cross-country skiing
Nordic combined |
| 13 | Pine skating rink« | Val di Fiemme, Baselga di Piné | skating |
| 14 | Arena di Verona« | Verona, Venice | closing ceremony |
It is known that in the coming years, reconstruction will be carried out on the main stadium "San Siro", the "Eugenio Monti" track, and the "Pine" skating rink.
Sports
In 2026, a new sport – ski mountaineering – will be included in the Winter Olympic Games program.
Thus, the 2026 Olympics will be an international sporting event, where 8 sports and 16 disciplines will be represented:
Symbolism of the event
The expected 25th Winter Olympic Games have been officially named "Milano Cortina 2026" and have their own website, which can be found at milanocortina2026.olympics.com.
The competition logo turned out to be simple and concise – a snow-white number 26, as if written by a child in the snow or on a fogged-up window.
More than 871,000 users from 169 countries participated in the online logo selection. Designers submitted a variety of options, but 74% voters chose this design, symbolizing winter and the environmental friendliness emphasized by the 2026 Olympic organizers.
The mascot (the main symbol of the competition) was also approved online. Voters were also offered a choice of two designs, each winning a preliminary selection:
- two flowers (Edelweiss and Snowdrop) from students of the Milan school;
- two ermines from the students of the Taverna School (Catanzaro).
According to the results of the online voting, the ermines won by a small margin, receiving 53% votes.
Interesting facts about the 2026 Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be:
- The 4th edition of the Games hosted by Italy;
- the first Olympics to be held in Milan;
- the first in the history of the Winter Games to have two host cities;
- the second in the history of the Winter Games, where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place in different cities (previously this happened only in Sarajevo in 1984);
It is also noteworthy that the 25th Olympics will be held exactly 20 years after the 2006 Games, which took place in Turin, and exactly 70 years after the 1956 Games, which took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Participants
It is expected that about 3,500 athletes from 93 countries and more than 2 million spectators will come to the Olympics in 2026.
The proposed team roster will be confirmed closer to the start of the competition.
The main question for Russians remains the participation of the Russian national team in the 2026 Olympic Games. Currently, the issue remains open, as in June 2023, the IOC officially announced that it would not extend invitations to Russia and Belarus for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
At the same time, IOC representatives stated that the final decision on whether Russian representatives will be allowed to participate in the 2024 Olympics will be made «at the appropriate time» (naturally, no dates were announced).
Naturally, things could still change significantly by 2026, so the athletes are continuing their training and haven't given up on their goal of competing at the Milan Winter Olympics in February 2026. Figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova told reporters that she can't imagine a situation where Russian athletes wouldn't be allowed to compete.
If the IOC doesn't change its mind, there will be only two options for Russian candidates to participate:
- participation in a neutral status (this possibility is being discussed);
- participation from another country.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko has already stated that the second option is categorically unacceptable, since one cannot abandon one's homeland for the sake of sporting achievements.
Next Winter Olympics
The next XXVI Winter Olympic Games will be held in another 4 years – in 2030, but who will host these competitions will only become known in mid-2024, when the next selection process organized by the IOC is completed.
Possible contenders include:
- USA (Salt Lake City);
- Sweden (Stockholm);
- Germany (Schmalkalden);
- France (Annecy);
- Ukraine (Lviv);
- Poland (Warsaw);
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo);
- Georgia (Borjomi);
- Kazakhstan (Almaty);
- Canada (Calgary), etc.