Milano Cortina 2026 Opens Feb. 6; SKIMO Debuts

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will open Feb. 6 at Milan’s San Siro and run through a Feb. 22 closing ceremony in Verona, with about 2,900 athletes expected to compete in roughly 116 medal events and the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering (SKIMO). Ice sports will be staged in Milan while alpine, Nordic and sliding events are spread across Cortina, Bormio, Anterselva, Val di Fiemme, Livigno and other mountain venues, and organisers say most competitions will use existing facilities with only two new builds: the Cortina bobsleigh run and Milan’s Santa Giulia arena. Officials say preparations are largely on track but several projects face tight timelines and delayed tests—notably the Santa Giulia arena—and the Cortina bobsleigh track has been politically controversial. Costs and budgets vary in reports, with operating budgets cited around €1.7 billion and broader investment or final bills reported in the €3.5–5.2 billion range. Promotional and cultural activities, from podium unveilings and the torch relay route to an Olympic poster exhibition in Nice, are underway, and Team USA is intensifying preparations with nearly 300 athletes expected and veteran names being highlighted in buildup coverage.