The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are a unique and unrepeatable event that is about to make its way to Veneto. From February 6 to 22, 2026 , 16 different disciplines will be held in seven venues across Veneto, Lombardy, Trento, and Bolzano, covering a total area of 22,000 square kilometers.
After the Opening Ceremony at San Siro, Cortina will host the bobsleigh, skelton, luge, and women's alpine skiing curling events. These Olympics are designed to be a traveling event : the cities of Milan, Cortina, Livigno, and Pedrazzo will be present simultaneously for the opening of the games, underscoring the community's commitment and the feeling of unity, even across miles of distance. The Olympic cauldrons will also be positioned simultaneously, one in Milan and one in Cortina: two regions, but one united heart for sport.
Events like this are a perfect opportunity to celebrate our country, Made in Italy , culture, music, and fashion, and they are a way to remind us how sport unites us all, highlighting the passion for sport but also the breathtaking beauty of winter sports.
Locations like Cortina and Bormio, Val di Fiamme, Anterselva, and Livigno will be the backdrop for these sensational games that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you don't want to miss this event, take advantage of a short-term rental in Veneto : with your own independent apartment, you'll have a warm and welcoming base to attend the Olympic Games and return at your leisure. Furthermore, with the Closing Ceremony at the Verona Arena, you can witness a unique event and feel like an integral part of the event.
Milano Cortina 2026 will be more than just a calendar of races: it will be a collective narrative spanning mountains, cities of art, and iconic locations, with the Veneto region playing a leading role between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Verona. Here, sport intertwines with landscapes and history, transforming every competition into an experience you live before you even watch it on TV.
Veneto on the main stage
In this great adventure, Veneto will not just be a supporting actor, but a key player. The region hosts two distinct yet complementary souls of the Games: the pure adrenaline of the Dolomites and the historical solemnity of Verona . It is here that the competition ceases to be merely a sport and becomes culture, landscape, and collective ritual.
Cortina d'Ampezzo: high-speed thrills
Imagine the silence of the mountains broken only by the sound of skis carving through the ice. In Cortina d'Ampezzo, the so-called Queen of the Dolomites Women's Alpine Skiing spectacle will unfold . The world's strongest athletes will compete on the Olympia delle Tofane slope, a natural temple where every turn can decide a career.
The new Cortina Sliding Centre , named after bobsleigh legend Eugenio Monti, is ready to host bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge competitions. It's a fast, technical track, where speeds reach 140 km/h and courage is measured in thousandths of a second. The Olympic Ice Stadium is reserved for curling competitions, perfect for a different, tactical, and truly glacial atmosphere.
On January 26, 2026, the Olympic Flame will return to Cortina, exactly 70 years after the 1956 Games. A bridge in time that unites two generations of dreamers.
The Verona Arena: a thousand-year-old stage for farewell
If the action takes place in Cortina, the excitement will ignite in Verona. For the first time in history, a Roman amphitheater will host the Closing Ceremony of a Winter Olympics . On February 22, 2026, the Verona Arena will become the center of the Olympic universe: under the artistic direction of Alfredo Accatino, the show will celebrate the end of the Games with a circular visual concept, inspired by echoes propagating through water. Among the expected stars is the star Roberto Bolle, ready to transform the ancient stone of the Arena into a stage of absolute grace.
An event not to be missed
The Olympics aren't just numbers, but stories, people. The bobsleigh track is named after Eugenio "the Flying Red" Monti, winner of six Olympic medals, remembered for a unique act of fair play in 1964, when he lent a bolt to his British rivals, allowing them to win gold. Or just think of the women's alpine skiing events : watching the Downhill or the Super-G live means witnessing the pinnacle of power and technique in women's sport worldwide.
Milano Cortina 2026 is an event spread across multiple regions, with distributed venues and facilities, specifically to enhance the local areas and create a more sustainable event. These Olympics allow Veneto to showcase its heritage to the world through two distinct perspectives: on the one hand, the natural power of the Dolomites, their magnificence and beauty, and on the other, the cultural prestige of Verona, united by the same Olympic thread.
And while the races draw attention, what remains is the image: an Italian winter that, for two weeks, becomes a universal language. Experiencing Milano Cortina 2026 isn't just about watching the races, but being part of a legacy, a legacy that will leave Veneto with improved infrastructures ready to host international events, as well as a place of honor in the global tourism landscape, and you can be part of it.
How to experience the 2026 Winter Olympics in Veneto?
The best advice is to experience the Winter Olympics as an insider, staying in Verona to spend less and enjoy the city's beauty, and then driving to the ski and Olympic resorts.
