Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games
Second only to the World Cup in scale, the Italian Winter Games waste no time announcing themselves. From February 6 to March 15, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics & Paralympics hijack the sporting calendar before you’ve even finished your first espresso of the year. ☕ 😮 This is not the first time the country has hosted the Games, but with two host cities, this edition is special: it pairs Milan’s impeccable urban polish with the alpine elegance of Cortina d’Ampezzo. 🇮🇹
We easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over six million memories worldwide. The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip, forever. Today, we asked our local photographers to help us uncover the fresh tracks of the Italian 2026 Winter Olympics with this guide to the Milan-Cortina Games. 🏅
TLDR
- The Many Sporting Events Explained
- Key Dates Worth Writing Down
- Meet Tina and Milo, the 2026 Winter Olympics Mascots
- Where to Stay in Milan
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites
- The Best Photo Spots Near the Olympics
- Still Curious? A Handy 2026 Winter Olympics FAQs Section
Photo: Nadia in The Dolomites for Flytographer. Sherry and partner capture memories in The Dolomites with a couples photoshoot.
Winter Olympics 2026 Events
There will be 16 sports disciplines at the 2026 Winter Games, which is impressive and slightly alarming if you still think the Olympics are just skis going downhill. Some of them, it turns out, involve skis going uphill on purpose. 🤯
Winter Olympics 2026 Sports List: 👇
- Alpine Skiing: Bormio, in the Valtellina Valley, will host men’s Alpine skiing speed events on the famous Stelvio course, while Cortina d’Ampezzo hosts the women’s Alpine skiing events.
- Biathlon: This is essentially skiing fast, then stopping to shoot targets.
- Bobsleigh: Teams race down an ice track in a sled.
- Cross-Country Skiing: Val di Fiemme is a primary venue for these events, as well as the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium.
- Curling: Teams slide stones across the ice while teammates sweep to control direction and speed.
- Figure Skating: Skaters perform choreographed routines featuring jumps, spins, and footwork.
- Freestyle Skiing: Mostly taking place in Livigno, near the Swiss border.
- Ice Hockey: The state-of-the-art Santa Giulia ice hockey arena is one highlight this year.
- Long Track Speed Skating: Athletes race against the clock on a large oval ice track.
- Luge: Athletes race feet-first on a small sled down an ice course.
- Nordic Combined: A two-part event combining ski jumping and cross-country skiing, with Val di Fiemme as a primary venue.
- Short Track Speed Skating: A high-speed, tactical speed skating discipline raced indoors at Milan-area venues during the Winter Games.
- Skeleton: Athletes race head-first down an ice track on a small sled.
- Ski Jumping: Competitors launch off a ramp aiming for distance and style in mid-air.
- Ski Mountaineering (New!): Also taking place in Livigno, where athletes climb and descend snowy terrain using skis and specialized gear.
- Snowboarding: Livigno also serves as the hub for snowboarding, where the major contenders are typically Team USA, Canada, Japan, and Austria. Any bets? 😁
Photo: Lucrezia in The Dolomites for Flytographer. David and partner capture memories in The Dolomites with a couples photoshoot.
Winter Olympics 2026 Dates
The Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 takes place in Milan, where Olympic teams parade, the Olympic flame is lit, and the Games are officially declared open by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 🎆 Additional satellite events will unfold across other host locations as competition begins.
The Olympic Closing Ceremony, held after the final gold medal events, moves to the Roman amphitheatre in Verona, celebrating standout performances, including mixed team competitions, and marking the formal handover to the next host city.
Roughly two weeks later, the Paralympic Opening Ceremony signals the start of the Paralympic Winter Games. 🎉
Olympic Games: February 6 to 22, 2026
- Competitions Begin: February 4, 2026 (Yes, a few competitions kick off early)
- Opening Ceremony: February 6, 2026 (San Siro Stadium in Milan)
- Closing Ceremony: February 22, 2026 (Verona Arena, Verona)
Paralympic Winter Games: March 6 to 15, 2026
- Competitions Begin: March 4, 2026
- Opening Ceremony: March 6, 2026 (Verona Arena, Verona)
- Closing Ceremony: March 15, 2026 (Cortina Olympic Ice Stadium, Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Photo: Danai in Milan for Flytographer. Renee and partner capture memories in Milan with a couples photoshoot.
2026 Winter Olympics Mascots
Since Grenoble in 1968, every Olympic Games has had a mascot. In Beijing, it was a panda; before that, PyeongChang gave us a white tiger. This time, it’s all about the stoat siblings Tina and Milo. The stoat, or ermine, is native to high-altitude regions, including the Dolomites. ⛰️
Tina, with her lighter fur, is the mascot of the Winter Olympics 2026, while Milo, in a darker coat, represents the Winter Paralympics. Their names are no coincidence either. Tina nods to Cortina, and Milo — pronounced MEE-loh — to, you guessed it, Milano. Milo was born without one paw, but that hasn’t slowed him down in the slightest. He’s learned to use his tail in impressively creative ways. 😉
You’ll be seeing the pair everywhere. They come in all shapes and forms: ceramics, mugs, keyrings, plush toys. It’s tempting to underestimate Olympic merch, but give it a few decades and check back with collectors. They age better than most souvenirs.
Photo: Dairin in Milan for Flytographer. Alejandra and family capture memories in Milan with a family photoshoot.
Where to Stay in Milan During the Olympics
Considering Milan as your base? Smart pick. The city proves the Games can be stylish, too. From design-forward apartments to polished luxury hotels, the city offers options to suit every kind of stay. Here’s where to settle in.
- Duomo / Brera: Stay near the Duomo for iconic sights and top fashion, but expect crowds at all hours. For a calmer, artsier base that’s still central, Brera is a smart alternative. 🎨
- Porta Garibaldi / Isola / Porta Nuova: Porta Nuova has shed its industrial past to become one of Milan’s most polished districts. The area delivers great shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, including the always buzzing Corso Como.
- Near Unipol Forum (Assago): Super smart move for Milano Cortina 2026, especially for ice hockey, thanks to the direct metro line connecting you straight to the city center and key venues like the new Santa Giulia arena. ⛸️
Photo: Dairin in Milan for Flytographer. Kinya captures memories in Milan with a solo adventure photoshoot.
Where to Stay in the Dolomites During the Olympics
Drawn to the mountains instead? Good call. The Dolomites mix alpine glamour with easygoing village life, all framed by some of Italy’s best scenery. Here’s where to make yourself at home.
- Cortina d’Ampezzo: Dubbed the “Queen of the Dolomites,” Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Games, famously opened by Sophia Loren, and wears its alpine glamour with unmistakable Italian flair, like the diva herself.
- San Vito di Cadore / Borca di Cadore: These charming towns sit in the heart of the Dolomites, surrounded by mountains, forests, and lakes. And if you feel like hitting the slopes yourself, the San Vito ski area is just a stone’s throw away. 🎿
- Dobbiaco (Toblach): Set beside a beautiful alpine lake, Dobbiaco is a go-to base for cross-country skiing and a true Dolomites gem. It even comes with two names — Dobbiaco in Italian and Toblach in German — a detail that captures the region’s bilingual character.
Photo: Lucrezia in The Dolomites for Flytographer. Lucia and partner capture memories in The Dolomites with a couples photoshoot.
Best Photo Spots Near the Olympics
Photos? Perché no? 🤷 Italy almost insists on being photographed.
Milan
- Piazza del Duomo: Milan’s main square, dominated by the Cathedral in all its Gothic splendor. A stone’s throw away sits the equally iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and, just across from it, Teatro Alla Scala. This is about as Milanese as it gets. 🤌
- Brera District: Artsy and elegant, it’s easy to lose track of time while shopping or art-hopping from Caravaggio and Raphael to Rembrandt. And yes, a stop at one of the excellent eateries along the way is non-negotiable. 🍝
- Piazza Mercanti: With a medieval air, this is the old market square, lined with more Gothic-style buildings. Theatrical details abound. Between photo snaps, linger a little to soak in the city’s glorious past.
Find more photo spots worth weaving into a wander in our Milan photo spots guide.
Photo: Dairin in Milan for Flytographer. Renee and family capture memories in Milan with a family photoshoot.
The Dolomites
- Lago di Braies: Considered the crown jewel of the Dolomites, this picture-perfect turquoise lake is framed by rugged peaks and dense pine forest. No notes, really. 💯
- Alpe di Siusi (Castelrotto): Alpe di Siusi is a dream for landscape photography, with cinematic peaks, open alpine meadows, and forests of pine and larch. Close by, the medieval village of Castelrotto neatly rounds out the picture.
- Lago di Caldonazzo: Nestled in Trentino, this lake is dotted with picturesque villages and pebble beaches, with wooden boathouses and charming docks that look especially good under a dusting of snow. ❄️
There’s plenty more to see. Find more photo spots in our Dolomites photo spots guide.
Photo: Nadia in The Dolomites for Flytographer. Jesse and partner capture memories in The Dolomites with a surprise proposal photoshoot.
FAQ: 2026 Winter Olympics
Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics being held?
In 2026, the Winter Olympics will be held in Italy for the third time, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo as co-host cities.
Where is Milano Cortina 2026?
Milano Cortina 2026 refers to a multi-city Olympic region in northern Italy, spread across Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino–Alto Adige/South Tyrol, and close to Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Slovenia.
How much will the Milano 2026 tickets cost?
Official price bands vary by event, session, and seat category, starting at around 50 euros and going up to thousands of euros. There are official sales and resale websites.
Where are the next 5 Winter Olympics?
Want to plan ahead? Here’s what’s planned:
- 2026: Milano–Cortina, Italy 🇮🇹
- 2030: French Alps, France 🇫🇷
- 2034: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 🇺🇲
From there on, hosts are yet to be decided. Keep an eye on updates from the International Olympic Committee.
Will NHL players play in the 2026 Olympics?
North America’s National Hockey League players are expected to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking their first Olympic appearance since 2014. However, their participation depends on the ice at the Milan venues being deemed safe. Fingers crossed. 🤞
Photo: Nadia in The Dolomites for Flytographer. Larissa and partner capture memories in The Dolomites with a couples photoshoot.
Capturing memories in Italy this Winter
When you travel for sport, the destination, the emotion, and the people all show up at once. Heading to the Winter Olympics, the World Cup, or another landmark event this year? Booking a local photographer for a shoot is a smart way to capture the energy of the moment, with photos you’ll return to long after the medals are awarded. 📸
