The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to begin in just over two weeks, with the Opening Ceremony officially launching the Milano Cortina Games on February 6, 2026. Competition will run through February 22, bringing together the world’s top winter athletes across 16 sports and 116 medal events in what promises to be one of the most geographically expansive Olympic Games ever staged.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will feature events beginning as early as February 4, two days before the Opening Ceremony in Milan. The Closing Ceremony on February 22 will conclude the festivities and pass the Olympic torch to the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics. Medal events will take place daily from February 7 through the final day of competition.
Where to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics
North American viewers will benefit from a favorable time difference, with Milan sitting six hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. According to NBC, this scheduling advantage means extensive daytime and primetime programming will be available for U.S. audiences. NBC will provide at least five hours of daily coverage featuring live finals of skiing, snowboarding, hockey, speed skating, and figure skating events.
Peacock will stream all competitions live for viewers in the United States, along with full-event replays and highlights. Additionally, USA Network and CNBC will broadcast qualifying rounds and medal coverage, with CNBC serving as the traditional home for curling events during weekends and after business programming on weekdays.
International audiences can access coverage through broadcasters including HBO Max and the BBC, among others. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will receive special coverage on NBC and Peacock, with the Opening Ceremony broadcast beginning at 2 p.m. ET on February 6 and primetime coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Olympic Sports and New Additions
The Milano Cortina Games will showcase 16 sports including alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, snowboard, and speed skating. Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut at these Games, with competitions scheduled at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Italy.
With 15 event venues spread across more than 10,000 square miles, these Winter Olympics represent the most geographically widespread Games ever staged. The expansive footprint reflects Italy’s diverse winter sports infrastructure and creates unique logistical challenges for organizers and athletes alike.
Team USA Athletes to Watch at Milano Cortina 2026
Team USA is sending its largest-ever Winter Olympics contingent to Milano Cortina, with 232 athletes including 98 returning Olympians and 33 Olympic medalists. This historic roster combines experienced champions with promising newcomers who are positioned to make their mark on the international stage.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, the husband-and-wife ice dance team, arrive seeking Olympic ice dance gold after finishing fourth at Beijing 2022. The pair has won three consecutive world titles and recently became the most decorated ice dance team in U.S. history with their seventh national championship.
However, figure skater Ilia Malinin enters the competition as a dominant force, having remained undefeated for more than two years. The 21-year-old holds two world championships, two Grand Prix Final titles, and three U.S. national championships. Malinin is notable for being the only skater to successfully land a quadruple Axel in competition.
Meanwhile, alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in her fourth consecutive Olympics with more than 100 World Cup victories to her name. The three-time Olympic medalist will focus on giant slalom, slalom, and team combined events, entering as the gold medal favorite in slalom at these Games.
Additionally, speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to contend for multiple medals after winning four medals at the final World Cup race before the Olympics. The 21-year-old Wisconsin native will compete in four events and is considered a gold-medal favorite in the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, 1,500-meter, and mass start competitions.
Historic Comeback Stories
Lindsey Vonn, 41, has qualified for her fifth Olympics after coming out of retirement ahead of the 2024 season. The three-time Olympic medalist last competed at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games and remains the only American woman to win Olympic gold in downhill. Her return represents one of the most compelling storylines of the Milano Cortina Games.
In contrast, defending freeski slopestyle gold medalist Alex Hall aims to defend his title while also competing in big air. The 27-year-old has secured more than a dozen World Cup podium finishes and two Crystal Globe titles, demonstrating versatility across multiple freestyle skiing disciplines.
Snowboarder Chloe Kim seeks to make history by becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic halfpipe gold medals. Despite tearing her labrum in early January, Kim has been cleared to compete in Livigno and remains a dominant force in the event she has owned since her breakout performance in 2018.
Ticket Information and Availability
The official ticket draw for the 2026 Winter Olympics opened on April 8, 2025, with many sessions already sold out. However, limited availability remains through the official ticketing website for select events. The Fan26 page provides real-time updates on ticket availability for interested spectators.
The Tickets MilanoCortina2026 mobile application features a resale platform where fans can buy, sell, or transfer tickets to other attendees. Alternatively, On Location offers hospitality packages that include event tickets and access to various tiers of hospitality venues, with pricing varying by event and package level.
As competition draws near, organizers continue monitoring ticket sales and venue preparations while athletes complete their final training sessions before the Games officially begin on February 4 with preliminary events.
