Much of the world’s eyes are on Milan as Design Week gears up for kickoff, but city leaders and businesspeople are counting down to an even bigger event: the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, which are less than a year away.
The region is abuzz as ticket sales prepare to launch on April 8 (Paralympic event tickets are already available). Though the games will take place across several towns and cities in northern Italy, evidence of next year’s events is on particular display in Milan — from the giant countdown clock and inflatable mascots in Piazza del Duomo to the Olympic rings outside city hall.
It’s not too early to start planning a trip — in fact, the window for non-VIPs to get good tickets and deals is a pretty short one. If you’re looking to visit the area next winter, here’s what you need to know.
Where to watch the games
Events and ceremonies run from February 6-22, 2026 with the Paralympics to follow on March 6-15. The proceedings will take place in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and much of northern Italy, from the Valtellina ski towns of Livigno and Bormio to villages in the Val di Fiemme. The closing ceremony will take place in Verona’s famous Arena.
Here’s a rundown of the locations and the sporting events you can catch in each.
Milan: Opening Ceremony, Speed Skating, Ice Hockey and Para Ice Hockey, and Figure Skating
Cortina d’Ampezzo: Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge, Curling, Para Alpine Skiing, Wheelchair Curling, Para Snowboard and Paralympic Closing Ceremony
Anterselva: Biathlon
Livigno: Freestyle skiing and Snowboarding
Bormio: Alpine Skiing and Ski Mountaineering
Predazzo: Ski jumping and Nordic Combined
Tesero: Cross-Country Skiing and Nordic Combined, Para Biathlon and Para Cross-Country Skiing
Verona: Olympic Closing Ceremony, Paralympic Opening Ceremony
How to get tickets to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Tech moguls and the world’s wealthy have already been sweeping up luxurious travel packages made available for the Games, complete with helicopter transfers and five-star hotels, Italian media reports. “Regular” Early Bird tickets will go live this week and will be online until May 6, 2025. You’ll need to register on the official Milano Cortina website.
The price list has been published by the organizers here, ranging from €40 (about $44) for some Early Bird tickets to several hundred for finals games.
The Olympic organizers have also partnered with On Location, an official hospitality provider for the games. They are offering packages that include accommodation, transport and lounge access, as well as tickets to specific events.
How the locations are preparing, one year out
Despite some controversies over the past few years regarding the building projects, the hefty price tag of hosting and the environmental impact of the games, the new infrastructure that was planned to accommodate the various sporting events is wrapping up on schedule.
In February, the living quarters of the Olympic Village were completed and will be delivered ahead of schedule. Located in the old railyard of the Porta Romana neighborhood in Milan, the urban regeneration project includes commercial spaces, a park and housing that will initially host the athletes for the games and later be converted into student residences.
Cortina d’Ampezzo also recently completed construction of a bobsled track that was initially met with backlash. Despite worries the sport would have to be played elsewhere, initial testing of the track is positive and it could be green-lit in the coming weeks, according to media reports.
