2026 Winter Olympics begins Feb 6 in Milano with 109 events, here’s what to watch

The 2026 Winter Olympics officially begins February 6 in Milano-Cortina with an opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium, kicking off 17 days of nail-biting competition across 109 medal events. Spanning from February 6 to 22, these Games promise historic moments as top athletes worldwide compete with new sports, legendary comebacks, and unexpected storylines lighting up Italy’s winter stage.

A Premier Date You Cannot Miss in Italy

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics marks the first time in Olympic history that two cities co-host the Games. Milano (Milan) hosts ice events including figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, and short track. Meanwhile, Cortina d’Ampezzo and surrounding Alpine regions in Lombardy and Northeast Italy showcase alpine skiing, Nordic sports, and snowboarding at world-class mountain venues. This distributed format adds intrigue as fans travel between glamorous Milan and picturesque mountain towns.

Competitions actually began February 4, but the spectacular opening ceremony on February 6 marks the official torch-lighting. The closing ceremony concludes this historic event on February 22 in Verona. NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock will provide comprehensive coverage for US audiences, ensuring fans catch every medal moment.

Star Athletes Ready to Deliver Olympic Magic

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) enters as the alpine skier with most World Cup wins in history. Connor McDavid (Canada), widely regarded as the planet’s best ice hockey player, makes his Olympic debut. Jutta Leerdam (Netherlands), the 27-year-old speed skating champion boasting 5 million Instagram followers, is favored for multiple medals. Eileen Gu (China), who won three medals at Beijing 2022 as an 18-year-old, eyes Olympic history with her record-extending 20th World Cup victory. Look for Ilia Malinin (USA), nicknamed the ‘Quad God,’ landing seven quadruple jumps as he pursues his first Olympic gold.

Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt seeks an unprecedented fourth consecutive World Cup title after dominating the slopes. Canadian hero Marie-Philip Poulin, the legendary ‘Captain Clutch’ ice hockey center, returns at 34 with three gold medals from prior Games. Speed skater Jordan Stolz (USA) remains undefeated at just 21 years old.

Eight New Events and Historic Debuts to Watch

The 2026 Winter Olympics introduce eight fresh medal events, fundamentally reshaping winter sports competition. Most exciting: ski mountaineering, an entirely new discipline requiring athletes to climb uphill on skis with special skins then race downhill. Women’s, men’s, and mixed relay events debut at the stunning Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio. This endurance sport tests stamina, technique, and strategic pacing like nothing else at the Olympics.

New Event	Sport Discipline	Why It Matters
Ski Mountaineering	Alpine/Nordic Hybrid	First entirely new Olympic sport at Winter Games
Dual Moguls	Freestyle Skiing	Head-to-head racing on parallel mogul courses
Women’s Luge Doubles	Luge	Advances gender parity in winter sports
Mixed Team Skeleton	Sliding Sports	Combines male and female competitors equally

Other debuts include women’s large hill ski jumping, women’s doubles luge, mixed-gender team combined alpine skiing, and team skeleton events. These additions push the 2026 Games toward the IOC’s goal of gender-balanced Olympics. Notably, women still compete in Nordic combined, a sport combining cross-country skiing and ski jumping, highlighting ongoing efforts toward complete equality.

Unforgettable Comebacks and Record Breakers

Lindsey Vonn, the iconic 41-year-old US alpine skier, returned in 2024 after knee replacement surgery and stepped away from competing in 2019. Now she’s vowing to race at Milano-Cortina despite ruptured ACL concerns, seeking her signature downhill gold. Chloe Kim (USA), the first woman to win two halfpipe golds, chases an historic three-peat in snowboarding. Norwegian cross-country legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, 29, won six golds from six World Championship events and now targets Olympic dominance. Italian sprinter Arianna Fontana, 35 and competing in her sixth Olympics, remains Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympian with 11 career medals.

“I ski jump the same jumps, I cross-country ski the same courses. I put the same amount of love into this sport yet because I am a woman I don’t have the opportunity to fulfil my dreams.”

— Anna Malacinski, 24-year-old Nordic combined athlete,

Why Diese Games Matter Globally and What to Expect

Milan, Italy has never hosted the Winter Olympics, making this February historic for Italian winter sports. The opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium promises spectacle, with Mariah Carey performing and torchbearers including stars from the Canadian series Heated Rivalry. Hockey rinks faced construction delays but are being completed by February 5. Figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey, and short track events cluster in Milan’s urban venues, creating convenience for fans.

Mountain venues across Cortina, Predazzo, Livigno, Val di Fiemme, and Bormio host alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, freestyle skiing, and ski jumping. The Stelvio track in Bormio stands as one of the world’s most challenging downhill courses. Cold Alpine air and fresh snow expected to create perfect competition conditions.

How Will You Experience the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Watch on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock for live streaming of all medal events. The official Olympics YouTube channel provides highlights, athlete profiles, and behind-the-scenes coverage. With 109 medal events across 17 days, strategic viewing helps maximize your Olympic experience. Will you prioritize figure skating’s technical artistry, alpine skiing’s speed thrills, hockey’s team drama, or emerging sports like ski mountaineering? The 2026 Winter Olympics promises unforgettable moments as legendary athletes chase gold and rising stars announce their arrival on the world stage.