Your Complete Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina
With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to commence next week in Italy, anticipation is building for what promises to be a historic edition of the world's premier winter sports competition. The Milano-Cortina Games will feature groundbreaking elements in scale, events, and geographical distribution across the beautiful Italian landscape.
Host Cities and Venue Distribution
The Italian bid from Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo secured hosting rights in 2019, triumphing over Stockholm–Are, Sweden in the final voting round. This dual-city approach creates a unique Olympic experience spanning northern Italy's diverse regions.
Milan, Italy's second-largest city and global fashion capital, will serve as the primary hub for numerous events. The metropolis will host figure skating, speed skating competitions, all hockey tournaments, and the spectacular opening ceremony that traditionally launches the Games.
Cortina d'Ampezzo, situated 258 kilometers northeast of Milan within the breathtaking Dolomites mountain range, will welcome women's Alpine skiing, curling competitions, and sliding sports including bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events.
Additional Competition Locations
The geographical spread of venues extends beyond the two main host cities:
- Val di Fiemme Cluster, Predazzo: Located just outside Cortina, this area will host all ski jumping events
- Tesero: Will feature cross-country skiing and Nordic combined competitions
- Bormio: Positioned between Milan and Cortina along Italy's Swiss border, this World Cup regular will stage men's alpine skiing events
- Livigno: Nearby resort town selected for snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions
- Verona: Historic city that will host the closing ceremony at the iconic Verona Olympic Arena
Olympic Schedule and Key Dates
The official opening ceremony occurs on Friday, February 6, 2026, but athletic competition actually begins two days earlier on Wednesday, February 4. Mixed doubles curling launches the competitive program with round-robin matches, including Canada's opening game against Czechia. Training sessions for luge and downhill skiing also commence on this date.
The Games conclude on Sunday, February 22, with the closing ceremony in Verona promising a spectacular fusion of music, art, and sporting spirit. The Winter Paralympic Games follow from March 6 through March 15, continuing the celebration of athletic excellence.
Team Canada Hockey Schedule
Canadian hockey fans have particular interest in their national teams' quests for Olympic glory. The men's team, competing in Group A, begins their campaign against Czechia on February 12 at 10:40 a.m. ET, followed by matches against Switzerland (February 13, 3:10 p.m. ET) and France (February 15, 10:40 a.m. ET).
The women's team opens their tournament against Finland on February 5 at 3:10 p.m. ET, with subsequent round-robin games against Switzerland (February 7), Czechia (February 9), and the United States (February 10).
Canadian Athlete Representation
Canada will send 207 elite athletes to compete in Italy, comprising 99 men and 108 women. Veteran skiers Mikael Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson earned the honor of serving as Canada's flag bearers during the opening ceremony. In total, approximately 2,900 athletes from over 90 national Olympic committees will participate across 116 events spanning eight sports and 16 disciplines.
Viewing Information for Canadian Audiences
CBC continues its tradition as Canada's Olympic broadcasting home, providing comprehensive coverage across television and digital platforms. The network plans to deliver 22 hours of daily live coverage from Milano-Cortina, with more than 1,200 hours of live content available in both English and French through CBC Gem and other digital services.
Time Zone Considerations
Italian events occur in the Central European Time zone, which is six hours ahead of Ontario (Eastern Time). This time difference explains why many competitions appear in Canadian morning or afternoon schedules rather than prime time viewing hours.
Olympic Mascots and Symbols
The Milano-Cortina Games feature Tina and Milo, a brother-sister pair of Italian stoats (a ferret-like mammal) representing the Olympics and Paralympics respectively. Their names derive from the host cities—Tina for Cortina and Milo for Milano. They're accompanied by six smaller flower mascots collectively known as "the Flo," adding to the Games' family-friendly appeal.
This comprehensive guide provides essential information for Canadian viewers and sports enthusiasts preparing to follow the 2026 Winter Olympics, an event that promises to showcase athletic excellence against Italy's stunning alpine backdrop while uniting nations through the spirit of winter sports competition.
