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The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will make history as the biggest winter games ever held. Athletes from 93 countries will compete in 16 different sports from February 6 to 22, 2026. This year brings something special – a brand new sport joins the Olympic program for the first time in over 20 years.

The games will take place across northern Italy in Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo. More than 2,900 athletes will compete for 116 medals. The 2026 games feature 47% women’s participation, the highest percentage in Winter Olympics history. This marks real progress toward equal representation in winter sports.

Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut this year. The International Olympic Committee approved this addition in 2021. Seven other new events also join the program. These additions make the 2026 Winter Olympics the most diverse winter games to date.

Complete List of All 16 Winter Olympic Sports & Categories

Sport	Medal Events	Venue Location	Key Highlight
Ice Hockey	2	Milan	NHL players return after 12 years
Figure Skating	5	Milan	Team event and individual competitions
Speed Skating	14	Milan	Long track racing up to 10,000m
Short Track Speed Skating	9	Milan	Fast-paced multi-skater races
Curling	3	Cortina	Starts Feb 4 before opening ceremony
Alpine Skiing	11	Bormio & Cortina	New team alpine combined event
Snowboarding	11	Livigno	Halfpipe, slopestyle and big air
Freestyle Skiing	13	Livigno	New dual moguls competitions
Cross-Country Skiing	12	Tesero	Women’s 50km matches men’s distance
Ski Jumping	4	Predazzo	New women’s large hill event
Biathlon	11	Anterselva	Skiing combined with rifle shooting
Nordic Combined	3	Predazzo & Tesero	Ski jumping plus cross-country
Bobsleigh	4	TBD (outside Italy)	Four-man and two-man/woman events
Skeleton	3	TBD (outside Italy)	New mixed team event
Luge	4	TBD (outside Italy)	New women’s doubles category
Ski Mountaineering	3	Bormio	Brand new Olympic sport debut

Ice Sports Details

• Ice Hockey features NHL players for the first time since 2014. The men’s and women’s tournaments will showcase the world’s best players. Canada and the United States remain the top gold medal favorites. Games take place at multiple arenas in Milan.
• Figure Skating includes five medal events. Athletes compete in men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, ice dance and team events. The competitions happen at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Skaters perform both technical programs and free skates to earn their scores.
• Speed Skating offers 14 medal events on the long track. Races range from 500 meters to 10,000 meters. The Milano Speed Skating Stadium hosts all speed skating competitions. Athletes reach speeds over 30 miles per hour on the ice.
• Short Track Speed Skating brings nine medal events of fast-paced racing. Multiple skaters compete simultaneously on a smaller track. The sport requires quick reflexes and strategic positioning. All short track events take place in Milan.
• Curling features three medal events in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles. Teams slide stones across ice toward a target area. The Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium hosts all curling matches. Competition begins on February 4, two days before the opening ceremony.

Alpine and Snowboard Sports Details

• Alpine Skiing includes 11 medal events split between speed and technical disciplines. Men compete at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio. Women race at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina. Events include downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and the new team alpine combined.
• Snowboarding offers 11 medal events at Livigno Snow Park. Athletes compete in halfpipe, slopestyle, big air, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross. Young stars like Chloe Kim and Mia Brookes will chase Olympic glory.
• Freestyle Skiing features 13 medal events including the new dual moguls competitions. Athletes perform in moguls, aerials, ski cross, halfpipe, slopestyle and big air. All freestyle events take place at venues in Livigno.

Nordic Sports Details

• Cross-Country Skiing includes 12 medal events at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium. The women’s 50km mass start matches the men’s distance for the first time. Races use both classical and freestyle techniques across various distances.
• Ski Jumping features four medal events at Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium. The women’s large hill individual makes its Olympic debut. Team events now use two-person teams instead of four. Athletes fly through the air at speeds over 60 miles per hour.
• Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting for 11 medal events. Athletes race between shooting stages at Anterselva Biathlon Arena. They must control their breathing and heart rate to hit small targets from 50 meters away.
• Nordic Combined merges ski jumping and cross-country skiing into three events. Ski jumping results determine starting positions for the cross-country race. Team events now feature two-person teams.

Sliding Sports Details

• Bobsleigh includes four medal events in two-man, four-man, two-woman and monobob. Teams race down an icy track at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour. The exact venue location remains to be determined outside Italy.
• Skeleton offers three medal events including the new mixed team competition. Athletes slide headfirst down the track on a small sled. They endure gravitational forces up to five times their body weight.
• Luge features four medal events with the new women’s doubles replacing the open doubles. Athletes lie on their backs and steer with subtle body movements. Luge is the fastest of all sliding sports.

Mountain Sports Details

Ski Mountaineering represents the only completely new sport at Milano Cortina 2026. This makes it the first addition since skeleton joined in 2002. Athletes race up mountains on skis using special climbing skins. They remove their skis for boot-pack sections on steep terrain. The descent features gates like alpine skiing. Three events include men’s sprint, women’s sprint and mixed relay.

New Events Making Their Debut in 2026

Eight new events join the Olympic program this year. Three come from ski mountaineering as a new sport. The other five expand existing disciplines to include more competitions.

The 8 New Olympic Events:

1. Ski Mountaineering – Men’s Sprint
2. Ski Mountaineering – Women’s Sprint
3. Ski Mountaineering – Mixed Relay
4. Freestyle Skiing – Men’s Dual Moguls
5. Freestyle Skiing – Women’s Dual Moguls
6. Luge – Women’s Doubles
7. Ski Jumping – Women’s Large Hill Individual
8. Skeleton – Mixed Team Event

What is Ski Mountaineering?

Ski mountaineering combines uphill climbing and downhill skiing in a timed race format. Athletes use lightweight skis with special touring bindings. Removable skins attach to the ski bottoms for grip during climbs. Sprint races last about three minutes and include three distinct sections.

The first section requires skiing uphill with skins attached. Athletes then remove their skis and carry them on backpacks for the boot-pack portion. They put skis back on for more uphill travel. The final descent involves removing skins and racing downhill through gates.

France dominates the sport with stars Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet. Switzerland and Spain also field strong teams. Italy hopes to medal on home soil. All ski mountaineering events take place at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio on February 19 and 21.

Other New Events Explained

Freestyle skiing adds men’s and women’s dual moguls. Two skiers race side by side down a bumpy course. They perform aerial tricks while navigating the moguls at high speed. This head-to-head format creates exciting competition.

Luge introduces women’s doubles as a separate event. Previously only an open category existed. This change promotes gender-specific competition and equality. Two women athletes now compete together on one sled.

Ski jumping welcomes women’s large hill individual. Women previously only competed on the smaller normal hill. The large hill jump allows for longer flights and higher scores. This expansion gives female ski jumpers more opportunities.

Skeleton debuts a mixed team event. Teams include one man and one woman. Their combined times determine the final standings. This format adds strategy to team selection.

What Was Removed?

The alpine skiing mixed team parallel event was removed from the program. The International Olympic Committee reallocated those athlete spots to other sports. This keeps the total athlete count at approximately 2,900. The removal helps accommodate the new ski mountaineering events.

Top Sports to Watch at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Ice Hockey tops the must-watch list with NHL stars returning. Connor McDavid leads Team Canada as the best player in the world. The Edmonton Oilers captain has never played in an Olympic tournament. Auston Matthews stars for Team USA and brings elite scoring ability. The men’s gold medal game on February 22 will be epic.

Ski Mountaineering offers something completely new for Olympic fans. This fast-paced sport combines climbing and skiing in three-minute bursts. Emily Harrop of France has won four consecutive overall World Cup titles. Her teammate Thibault Anselmet also won three straight men’s titles. Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll took the 2025 world championship. The February 19 and 21 competitions will introduce millions to this exciting sport.

Alpine Skiing always delivers dramatic racing on steep mountain slopes. Mikaela Shiffrin chases more medals for the United States. She holds the record for most World Cup victories in history. Marco Odermatt of Switzerland defends his Olympic giant slalom title from 2022. The speed events like downhill provide edge-of-your-seat thrills.

Snowboarding showcases incredible aerial tricks and youthful energy. Chloe Kim aims for her third consecutive Olympic gold in halfpipe. She won in 2018 and 2022 at just 17 and 21 years old. Great Britain’s Mia Brookes represents the next generation at only 18 years old. The big air and slopestyle competitions feature massive jumps and creative tricks.

Figure Skating remains an Olympic staple with beautiful performances. The team event creates national pride and camaraderie. Individual competitions showcase technical precision and artistic expression. The gala exhibition at the end celebrates the sport’s elegance.

Curling provides strategic drama and unexpected excitement. The mixed doubles format creates tight competition between pairs. Teams must plan several shots ahead like chess players. The sport has grown in popularity since its Olympic return.

Biathlon combines two completely different skills into one fascinating event. Athletes ski at top speed then must slow their heart rates to shoot accurately. Missing targets adds penalty laps or time. The mass start races feature all competitors starting together for chaotic finishes.

FAQ About 2026 Winter Olympics Sports

The 2026 Winter Olympics promise thrilling competition across 16 sports with ski mountaineering’s exciting debut. Mark your calendar for February 6-22, 2026 to witness history in Italy.