The 25th Winter Olympics is almost here, returning to Europe with a record 116 medal events, including three in the new sport of ski mountaineering. Here’s what you need to know about Milan-Cortina 2026.
Britain eyes historic Winter Games
Great Britain has never won more than five medals – or more than one gold – at a single Winter Olympics, but 2026 could change that. UK Sport is now targeting four to eight medals, while Team GB chef de mission Eve Muirhead says there is an "opportunity to get the most we ever have."
British athletes recently won nine medals at World Championships across bobsleigh, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, skeleton, and snowboarding. Medal hopefuls also include snowboarder Mia Brookes and freestyle skier Kirsty Muir, both winners in this season’s World Cup events.
However, GB’s previous Winter Olympics target of three to seven medals in 2022 did not go as planned. The team won nothing until the final weekend, picking up a gold and silver in curling, falling short of expectations.
The most gender-equal Winter Games yet
The Winter Olympics have come a long way since 1924, when just 11 women competed. For Milan-Cortina, roughly 1,300 female athletes will participate, with women competing in a record 53.4% of medal events. Of the 116 events, 50 are for women and 12 are mixed. Twelve of the 16 disciplines will have fully balanced athlete numbers.
New women’s events include luge doubles and ski jumping individual large hill, alongside a mixed skeleton relay. This is also the first Winter Olympics overseen by IOC president Kirsty Coventry, the first woman in the organisation’s top post.
Yet some gaps remain: Nordic combined is still the only Winter Olympic sport without a women’s event, as the IOC decided against including one for 2026 despite lobbying from leading athletes.
NHL stars return to ice hockey
Ice hockey is one of the Winter Games’ biggest draws, and NHL players are back after a 12-year absence. They missed the 2018 Games, while Covid disrupted 2022 participation. Even for 2026, the inclusion of NHL players was uncertain due to rink readiness issues.
Their return boosts the USA’s hopes of winning its first men’s Olympic ice hockey title since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” especially with Russia banned from competing. While most NHL teams are US- or Canada-based, almost every Olympic team will feature NHL players, including 2022 champions Finland and semi-finalists Slovakia and Sweden.
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Milan-Cortina 2026 vs. Cortina 1956
Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the Winter Olympics for the second time, joining St Moritz, Innsbruck, and Lake Placid. The Games have grown dramatically since 1956 – with five times as many events and almost four times as many athletes – making it impossible for a single ski resort to host alone. Events will take place across multiple cities, including Milan.
The IOC emphasizes sustainability, and spreading events reduces the need for new infrastructure. Cortina’s Olympic Ice Stadium, which hosted opening ceremonies, ice hockey, and figure skating outdoors in 1956, will now host curling under a roof in 2026.
A golden era of record-breaking athletes
The 2026 Games could see new names join the list of Winter Olympic gold medal leaders. German lugers Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt aim for their seventh and eighth golds, equalling Norwegian legends Ole Einar Bjorndalen, Bjorn Daehlie, and Marit Bjorgen. Their 100% gold rate could surpass the Norwegians, who won gold in 53%, 33%, and 30% of their events respectively.
Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, a five-time Olympic champion, could also rise to the top, having won all six events at last season’s World Championships.
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How will hosts Italy perform?
Hosts often get a medal boost, though not always. Italy won 13 medals in 2002 but only 11 in Turin 2006, despite five golds. For 2026, the Italian Olympic Committee has set a minimum target of 19 medals, one short of their 1994 record of 20.
Italy’s medal hopes have faced setbacks, with flagbearer Federica Brignone and freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli struggling with fitness, while alpine skier Marta Bassino is already ruled out. Others, like speed skater Davide Ghiotto, snowboarder Maurizio Bormolini, and curling pair Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini, remain strong contenders.
Short track legend Arianna Fontana, who won bronze at 15 in Turin 2006, aims to win a medal at a sixth consecutive Winter Olympics, cementing her place as Italy’s most successful Winter Olympian.
With inputs from BBC