The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are just days away, featuring 16 sports, 116 gold medals, and new events like ski mountaineering. With opening ceremonies in Milan, competitions spread across multiple venues, and top athletes, these Games promise historic moments amidst security measures and venue readiness concerns.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are set to kick off in just days, with preliminary heats already underway and the torch relay nearing completion. These Games will feature 16 sports, including the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering and new events in skeleton, luge, and large hill ski jumping, with a total of 116 gold medals awaiting their champions. The highly anticipated opening ceremony, featuring performances by U.S. pop star Mariah Carey and crossover tenor Andrea Bocelli, will be held at Milan’s San Siro stadium on Friday, February 6, at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Eastern). Marking a historic first, these will be the most geographically spread-out Winter Games ever, with primary competition hubs in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, separated by over 400 kilometers. Athletes will also compete in three other mountain clusters, while the closing ceremony is slated for Verona. Key dates for the competition, which runs from February 4-22, include the start of curling on Feb. 4, the first gold medal events on Feb. 7, and major finals like men’s figure skating on Feb. 13, women’s ice hockey on Feb. 19, and men’s ice hockey on Feb. 22. Spectators worldwide can tune in via official broadcasters, with NBC carrying showcase events and Peacock streaming sports in the U.S., often with delayed broadcasts to suit local prime times. Top storylines include the return of NHL players to Olympic ice for the first time since 2014, the participation of decorated Alpine skiers Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin, and freestyle stars Eileen Gu and Chloe Kim. There are ongoing discussions regarding venue readiness, particularly for the hockey arenas in Milan and the athletes’ village in Cortina. A limited number of Russian athletes will compete as neutral participants after being cleared by an independent review. Italy is also implementing high security measures, including a decree targeting violent protesters, to ensure a safe and successful event.
