Winter Olympic Games: when and where will they be held in 2026, will Russia participate

From February 6 to 22, 2026, Italy will host the 2026 Winter Olympics, a large—scale sporting event at the venues of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. 116 sets of medals will be awarded at the Olympic Games. In 2026, a new sport will appear — ski mountaineering with three Olympic disciplines. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Olympic Games in Italy: date and venue

The official opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics is scheduled for February 6, 2026. Some sports will start on February 4-5 (for example, curling, hockey).

The Games will close on February 22, 2026.

Olympics 2026: the concept and symbols of the upcoming Games

The Milan Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee presented the details of the Winter Olympics, emphasizing the distributed nature of the events. A special feature of the Games will be the use of existing infrastructure and temporary structures in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The official name is the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026 Milan-Cortina.

The logo of the 2026 Winter Games, called Futura, reflects minimalism and innovation. The design symbolizes sustainable development and digital presence, and the slogan "Together, for tomorrow" emphasizes unity and focus on the future.

Cities hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics: geography of the competition

The geography of the 2026 Winter Olympics covers Lombardy, Veneto and the autonomous province of Trento. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will be the main centers, and competitions will also be held in Valdi Fiemme, Anterselva, Bormio and Pralla al Piano.

Milan will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games, hockey, speed skating and short track. Competitions in alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Other locations will host skiing, biathlon, freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

The program of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games: sports and innovations

The program of the 2026 Olympics includes 16 sports with 116 sets of awards. Traditional disciplines include skiing, biathlon, figure skating, hockey and curling. The program also includes modern sports such as freestyle skiing, snowboarding and short track.

The main innovation of the 2026 Winter Olympics will be the debut of ski mountaineering. This discipline combines skiing and downhill skiing, which adds entertainment to the program of the Games.

Preparations for the 2026 Olympic Games: timeline and planning

Preparations for the Winter Olympics are underway according to the approved schedule. The Olympic Torch relay will begin in autumn 2025 along a route through the picturesque regions of Italy. This will allow millions of viewers to become a part of the event.

The Olympic Village will open in January 2026 to receive athletes and delegations. The organizers confirm that all facilities will be ready on time, which will ensure the smooth running of the Games.

Legacy of the 2026 Winter Olympics: development of sports infrastructure

The legacy of the 2026 Olympic Games provides for the continued use of facilities for international competitions and training. Infrastructural improvements, especially in the transport sector, will have a long-term impact on the development of the region.

The organizers focus on environmental initiatives and reducing the carbon footprint. The Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will set new standards for events of this magnitude, contributing to the popularization of winter sports.

Russia at the 2026 Olympics

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev announced on December 1 that no more than 20 Russian athletes will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics. His words are quoted by Match TV.

"This is the maximum we can squeeze out of this situation today. But in any case, we will be there. You need to broadcast, you need to watch, you need to be sick. Every victory is worth its weight in gold. Especially in these difficult conditions," he said.

Currently, only three Russian athletes have qualified for the 2026 Olympics in neutral status: figure skaters Adelia Petrosyan and Peter Gumennik, as well as mountaineer Nikita Filippov.