In 2026, the Winter Olympics will be hosted by a pair of Italian cities - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. This is the first time in history that two cities have successfully bid.
The Olympic centres will be scattered around the north of the country - ice hockey and figure skating will be held in Milan, Nordic skiers will compete in Val di Fiemme, snowboarders in Livigno, biathletes in Anterselva, etc.
The Italians want to use existing venues. The only new plans are to build an ice hockey hall, which will later become a concert hall, and an Olympic village, which will later serve as a campus for university students.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for February 6 and the closing ceremony for February 22, 2026.
A total of 16 sports are expected to be competed at the XXV Winter Olympics. Ski mountaineering is expected to be a new sport on the Olympic programme.
