Winter Olympics 2026: Check Highlights & Full Schedule of Milano Cortina Games

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026, have started, marking a historic milestone as the most geographically spread-out Winter Games in history, utilizing iconic venues across Northern Italy from the urban arenas of Milan to the legendary peaks of the Dolomites.  

The Games officially open on Friday, February 6, the action is already underway with preliminary rounds and training sessions. Here is everything you need to know about the schedule, key events, and how the competition is unfolding.

Key Highlights of Winter Olympics 2026

• Official Dates: The Games run from February 6 to February 22, 2026, across various venues in Northern Italy.

• The Motto:"IT’s Your Vibe" where "IT" cleverly doubles as the abbreviation for Italy, highlighting the energy of the host nation.

• The Logo: Logo is called as "Futura", A sleek white emblem featuring the number 26 drawn in a single brushstroke, representing sustainability and the mark we leave on the world.

• The Mascots: Tina and Milo two stoat siblings (ermines); Tina is the white stoat for the Olympics, and Milo is the brown stoat for the Paralympics.

• Opening & Closing: The Games begin at the San Siro Stadium (Milan) and conclude with a historic ceremony at the Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheater.

• Sustainability Goal: Over 90% of the venues being used are existing or temporary, making this one of the most eco-friendly Winter Games ever.

• New Edition: The 2026 Games feature 116 medal events across 16 disciplines. This year introduces several exciting changes:

• Ski Mountaineering: Making its Olympic debut with three medal events (Sprint for Men and Women, and a Mixed Relay).

• Increased Gender Equality: These Games boast the highest percentage of female athletes in Winter Olympic history (47%).

• NHL Return: For the first time since 2014, NHL players are returning to the Men’s Ice Hockey tournament, promising a "best-on-best" competition.

• New Formats: Dual Moguls in Freestyle Skiing and a new format for Alpine Combined, which will now be a team-based event.

The Winter Olympics 2026 Full Schedule (Feb 5 – Feb 22, 2026)

The Games officially run for 16 days after the Opening Ceremony, featuring 116 medal events across 16 Games. Below is the comprehensive schedule for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This guide includes the broad event window for all sports from February 5 to February 22, followed by the specific hourly breakdowns for the opening preliminary days. 

Winter Olympics 2026: Major Venues and Clusters

The Games are divided into four primary "clusters" to take advantage of Italy's existing world-class infrastructure:

• Milan Cluster: The hub for ice sports. Figure Skating and Short Track will be at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, while Ice Hockey takes over the Rho and Santa Giulia arenas.

• Cortina d’Ampezzo Cluster: The "Queen of the Dolomites" hosts Curling, Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton, and Women's Alpine Skiing.

• Valtellina Cluster (Bormio & Livigno): Home to Men's Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, and the new Ski Mountaineering.

• Val di Fiemme Cluster: The center for Nordic disciplines, including Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, and Nordic Combined.

India Presence at Milano Cortina 2026: 

This year, two Indian competitors qualified for the Games, marking a new milestone in the country's winter sports history. Alpine skier Arif Khan returns for his second Olympics in the Slalom event, alongside cross-country skier Stanzin Lundup, tripling the country's presence from the previous edition. Adding to the prestige, shooting legend Abhinav Bindra was honoured as an official torchbearer, symbolising India's rising impact in the global Olympic movement.

Also read: What is Olympic Village? Check where the Winter Olympics 2026 will be held

Check the Daily Schedule (Feb 4 – Feb 6)

Wednesday, February 4: The Games Begin

The competition kicks off with technical training and the first tactical battles on the ice. All eyes are on the curling sheets as the Mixed Doubles tournament officially launches the sporting action in Cortina.  Before the torch reaches the San Siro Stadium, several sports have already begun their campaigns. All times below are in Eastern Time (ET).

Thursday, February 5: Pre-Ceremony Momentum

The pace intensifies as Ice Hockey makes its debut and heavy hitters like Team USA and Team Canada take to the rink. Meanwhile, snowboarders and ski jumpers begin their first flights over the Italian Alps

Friday, February 6: Artistry and Anthem

Figure skating brings its signature elegance to Milan as the Team Event begins before the world turns its attention to the San Siro Stadium. The day concludes with the grand Opening Ceremony to officially welcome the world to Milano Cortina.

How to Watch: In India Live of streaming of winter olympics is available on JioCinema, with TV coverage on Sports18.

Stay Updated: The Olympic schedule is subject to change. Check back with us daily for the daily Schedule and highlighs.

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