The 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina: What to Know

European locations for the Olympics continue with the 2026 Winter Olympics to be hosted in Milano-Cortina (Italy). It feels as if the Summer Games just ended, but the Winter Games will be here before we know it.

If you're looking for information about any of the following, you've landed in the right spot:

• Where the 2026 Winter Olympics are going to be hosted.
• What you need to know.
• How to travel to Italy for the games.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are in Milano-Cortina

But where is that exactly?

Milano-Cortina is a shortening of Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo, two different cities. While it would be easy to assume that Milano and Cortina are neighbors, that's not the case. Both are in Northern Italy, but they're actually about 4 and a half hours away from each other by car.

Milano-Cortina isn't just one place, but two, and the majority of the events will take place in one or the other. However, the locations don't stop there. Several different areas in Northern Italy will be hosting specific Games.

In fact, the 2026 Games are going to be the most widespread ever, with locations throughout the Northern part of the country.

There will be events in:

• Milan
• Cortina
• Anterselva/Antholz
• Bormio
• Livigno
• Predazzo
• Tesero
• Verona

The main venues are in Milan and Cortina

In Milan, the main venues hosting the Games are:

• The Milano Ice Skating Arena
• Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• The Milano Ice Park
• The Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium

In Cortina, the venues are:

• The Cortina Sliding Center
• The Cortina Para Snowboard Park

The Games will begin in February of 2026

The Olympics start on February 6, 2026, and run to February 22nd. The Paralympics begin just after, running from March 6 to the 15th.

The opening ceremony will be in Milan

In the San Siro Stadium.

The San Siro Stadium is just east of Milan, and you can get to it via public transportation, straight from the city center.

Milano will celebrate the opening of the Olympic Winter Games involving all competition venues, in a way no one has seen before." - The Official Milano-Cortina Games

The official Games website promises something that has never been done before. After such a viral opening ceremony in Paris, it's going to be exciting to see exactly what that entails!

Some travelers will need a visa to go to Italy

If you're heading overseas, there are some requirements you will need to meet for Italy. Whether you're an athlete, coach, family member, or are going to watch and enjoy the event, you must understand which requirements apply to you.

Some travelers have to get a visa before traveling to Italy. This visa is called a Schengen visa.

Italy is a member of something called "the Schengen zone". The Schengen zone is a collection of 29 countries, and Italy is one of them, but others include France, Spain, Greece, and more.

Whether or not you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you're going to be spending overseas.

Some countries have agreements with the Schengen zone that allow their citizens to go to member countries without a visa. Citizens of places like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia can go to Italy (and other Schengen countries) for up to 90 days without a visa.

Not all countries have agreements like this, though. For instance, citizens of India, China, South Africa, and several others don't. This means that citizens of these countries cannot travel to Italy without a visa.

Whether or not you need a visa depends on your nationality (the country that issued your current, valid passport), not your residence. If you are a resident of the US, but are an Indian national (for example), you will need to get a visa to go to Italy.

If you're planning to go to Italy for the Olympics, make sure you check whether or not you need a Schengen visa - and which specific type you need.

Getting a visa is a multi-week process, so make sure you start your application well ahead of time.

You will not need ETIAS for the 2026 Winter Olympics

ETIAS, a new requirement for travelers heading to Italy, was originally supposed to be in place well before the Games, but it has been pushed back.

Because of that, travelers heading to either watch, work, attend, or play in the Games will not need to get ETIAS approval.

ETIAS isn't just for Italy. It's for all of the countries in the Schengen area. If you're curious about ETIAS, what it is, and who needs it, you can check out this helpful guide here.

Even though you don't need ETIAS, you will need a valid passport that meets the following requirements:

• It was issued within the past 10 years.
• It will still be valid for at least 3 months after you leave Italy/the Schengen area. Meaning, if you are leaving Italy on March 15th, 2026, your passport needs to have an expiration date anytime after June 15th, 2026.

Different areas will host different events

While the majority of the Winter events will be hosted in Milan and Cortina, some will be hosted in different towns or areas throughout Northern Italy.

Milan's events

Milan will host the Opening Ceremony, Ice Hockey, Speed Skating, Short Track Speed Skating, and Figure Skating. For the Paralympics, Milan will host Para Ice Hockey.

Cortina's events

Cortina will host Alpine Skiing, Bobsledding, Skeleton, Luge, and Curling. They will also host Para Alpine Skiing, Wheelchair Curling, and Para Snowboarding.

Anterselva's event

Anterselva will host the Biathlon.

Bormio's events

Bormio will host Alpine Skiing and Ski Mountaineering.

Livigno's events

Livigno will host Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding.

Predazzo's events

Predazzo will host Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.

Tesero's Events

Tesero will host Cross-Country Skiing and Nordic Combined. They will also host the Para Biathlon and Para Cross-Country Skiing.

Verona's Events

Verona will host the Olympic Closing Ceremony.

Some useful resources

Here are a few useful resources if you're planning on attending the Games.

• How to plan your first trip to Italy
• What to know before booking an Airbnb in Italy
• The Italy Visas Guide
• New Requirements for Traveling to Europe
• What happens if you get sick while abroad

FAQs about the 2026 Winter Olympics