Originally published on 1/20/26

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics—also known as the XXV Winter Olympic Games—are less than 20 days away, and millions of sports fans around the globe are eager to celebrate. Read on for everything you need to know about the Games, including when they start and the way Italy is making history!

Where are the Winter Olympics being held this year? 

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to February 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. It will be the first time Milan has hosted the games, but Cortina played host 70 years ago, in 1956. 

“Cortina has been renovated and is continuing to be renovated with new services, new hotels, new ski lifts, so we are ready to welcome you,” the city’s mayor, Gianluca Lorenzi, told The New York Times earlier this month.  “We look forward to seeing [everybody] both during the Olympics and, above all, after the Olympics, because after the Olympics, you will see the Cortina of 2026, which is a Cortina that was absolutely at the forefront in terms of the environment but has been renewed in its services to be comprehensive in relation to market demands.” 

As with every Olympic Games, there are safety concerns, especially since construction on the new bobsled track resulted in Lorenzi receiving a death threat. The mayor has assured people that despite all of that his city is ready to host the massive sporting event. 

“As for security, there are 1,147 officers from various forces, including the state police, special units, the finance police and the Carabinieri [the Italian military police], who will ensure the safety of the athletes, spectators and dignitaries,” he told The New York Times. “So it’s a very important system, which has also been very complex because we had to find a place for them to stay and sleep. It wasn’t easy, but I must say that the prefecture did an excellent job.” 

“Unfortunately, we then had to put security measures in place at my home and for my family, which is never pleasant, but of course, a death threat does not make me back down from my thoughts and idea of moving forward,” Lorenzi continued. “Certainly, there is a part of the population that was not in favor of, or is not in favor of, the sliding center [which is used for the bobsled race], but unfortunately, it is difficult to get everyone to agree. I am convinced that the fact that we have carried out the project is an added value for Cortina.” 

How the 2026 Winter Olympics are making history 

Despite the primary cities being Milan and Cortina, the 2026 Winter Olympics are actually being held all over Italy. This isn’t the first time a city has made this decision, but it is the first time the cities have been spread this far out. 

Milan (host of the opening ceremony, skating and hockey) and Cortina (host of bobsled, skeleton, luge and women’s Alpine skiing) are 250 miles apart, which is raising some concerns since traveling that far by bus or car could be dangerous if the roads are covered in snow.

The other hosting cities include Valtellina (Freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ski mountaineering and men’s Alpine skiing) and Val di Fiemme (Cross-country skiing and ski jumping.) Following the events, the closing ceremony will be held in Verona. 

“This approach allows the maximum use of existing venues, reducing the need for new construction and, as a consequence, minimising the carbon footprint,” states the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Olympics.com.

The Olympic Villages are spread out between Milan, Cortina, Anterselva, Bormio, Livigno and Predazzo and are far away from some of the venues, which could cause delays if Italy gets bad  weather . 

“The Games are capitalising on existing infrastructure and local winter sports expertise, aiming to create lasting socio-economic benefits for the local population,” Marie Sallois, IOC’s director for sustainability, said in a statement. “We hope the Games help boost the local economy and inspire more people across Italy and beyond to enjoy winter sports, adding to the already rich winter sport legacy of the region.” 

Where to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics

You can watch the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics starting on February 6 on NBC and Peacock.

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/news/where-are-the-winter-olympics-being-held-this-year