2026 Winter Olympics Preview

Last Updated on February 4, 2026 11:04 am by Erwin Noguera

Starting on February 4, the world will turn its attention to Italy with the arrival of the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. These Games will mark a new chapter in Olympic history, with venues spread across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and other locations in northern Italy.

It will be the fourth time Italy hosts the Olympic Games (after Rome 1960, Cortina 1956, and Turin 2006), and the second time for Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the historic cradles of winter sports.

For the first time in history, the Opening Ceremony will be held across multiple venues, with the main stage set at San Siro Stadium in Milan on February 6.

The ceremony will feature a star-studded lineup of renowned Italian and international artists, including Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Lang Lang, Cecilia Bartoli, and many others.

At Gambyl Exchange, you can explore all the predictions for the 2026 Winter Olympics and the odds for each event.

2026 Winter Olympics Calendar

Winter Olympics History

The Winter Olympic Games were officially born in 1924 in Chamonix, France, as a natural extension of the Summer Games. Since then, the event has evolved at an extraordinary pace, incorporating new disciplines, technological advancements, and increasingly specialized athletes.

For 2026, the program will once again blend tradition and modernity, featuring classic sports such as alpine skiing and ice hockey, alongside newer and more spectacular disciplines.

Milano–Cortina 2026 will feature eight sports and 16 disciplines, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski jumping, snowboarding, figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey, curling, bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge, among others.

The competition will include a total of 116 events over 19 days, with an estimated 2,800 athletes from more than 90 National Olympic Committees expected to participate.

New Events at Milano–Cortina 2026

Eight new events will make their Olympic debut, including:

Ski mountaineering – Men’s sprint

Ski mountaineering – Women’s sprint

Ski mountaineering – Mixed relay

Mixed team skeleton

Luge – Women’s doubles

Freestyle skiing – Men’s dual moguls

Freestyle skiing – Women’s dual moguls

Ski jumping – Women’s large hill

Without a doubt, ski mountaineering is one of the most anticipated debut sports at these Games. Extremely popular in the Alps, this discipline combines endurance, technical skill, uphill climbs using skins, and high-speed descents.

The sport represents a nod to the “purest” origins of skiing and strengthens the connection between the Games, the mountains, and nature.

Another major highlight is the return of National Hockey League (NHL) players to the Winter Olympics for the first time since Sochi 2014, making ice hockey one of the must-watch competitions of the Games.

Milano–Cortina 2026 will also be the most gender-balanced Winter Games in history, with female athlete participation exceeding 47%, up from 45.4% at Beijing 2022, and featuring a record 50 women’s events.

Athletes to Watch at Milano–Cortina 2026

Francesco Friedrich, Germany (Bobsleigh)

At 35 years old, the German pilot arrives with four Olympic gold medals and 18 world titles to his name. At Beijing 2022, Friedrich dominated both the two-man and four-man events. In Milano–Cortina, he will have the chance to become the first bobsleigh athlete in history to win five —or even six— Olympic gold medals.

Arianna Fontana, Italy (Short Track Speed Skating)

Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympian and the most successful short track speed skater in Olympic history aims to add to her 11 Olympic medals on home soil. These will be her second home Games after Turin 2006, where she won bronze in the 3,000m relay. She claimed gold in the 500m at both PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

Marie-Philip Poulin, Canada (Ice Hockey)

The three-time Olympic champion (Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, Beijing 2022) will seek her fourth Olympic title as captain of Canada’s women’s ice hockey team. At the last Games, Poulin played a decisive role, scoring two goals in Canada’s 3–2 victory over the United States in the final.

Erin Jackson, United States (Speed Skating)

After narrowly avoiding elimination before Beijing 2022 due to a qualifying error, Erin Jackson delivered one of the most memorable stories of the Games by winning gold in the 500 meters. Her participation was made possible by a sportsmanship gesture from Brittany Bowe, who gave up her spot so Jackson could compete. She returns to the Games as one of the leading contenders to defend her title and further cement her legacy in speed skating.

Chloe Kim, United States (Snowboard)

The two-time Olympic gold medalist rose to senior Olympic competition by winning halfpipe gold at both the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Games. A recent shoulder dislocation during training briefly cast doubt on her chances of a third consecutive title, but she has stated that she is “ready to compete,” keeping alive the possibility of another historic triumph.

Queralt Castellet, Spain (Snowboard)

The Spanish snowboarder will seek redemption in Italy after winning silver at Beijing 2022, finishing just behind Chloe Kim. At 36 years old, Castellet will compete in her sixth Winter Olympic Games, aiming to extend her legacy. She has stated that her goal is to “deliver the best run I’ve ever done”.

Quentin Fillon Maillet, France (Biathlon)

The Frenchman became the first biathlete to win five medals at a single Winter Games in Beijing and will once again set his sights on the podium in Milano–Cortina. At 33, he won gold in both the 12.5 km pursuit and the 20 km individual, missing out on a medal in just one of the six events he contested: the 15 km mass start.