Milan for 2026 Winter Olympics Anyone?

Juliet Weller
Oct 5
4 min read

Speed skater in blue and yellow suit glides on ice, hand touching surface. Bright stadium lights create dynamic, focused scene.

The closest I have ever gotten to the Winter Olympic Games has been the distance between my couch and the television.

Next year's Olympiad (6-22 February, 2026) will find me in exactly the same spot. What about you, though?

The 2026 Winter Olympics will unfold across multiple destinations in spectacular northern Italy, each offering its own mix of alpine beauty and cultural treasures.

The San Siro stadium (famous as a soccer venue) will host the Games' opening ceremony. Locations around Milan will host speed skating, figure skating, ice dancing and ice hockey.

Paralympic ice hockey will also take place in Milan; the Paralympic events are 6-15 March, 2026.

Whether you’re traveling to witness the excitement of the Games or simply exploring what makes this region special, you’ll find plenty beyond the competition.

What's in Milan besides the Winter Olympics?

Funny you should ask.

Milano: Fashion and Art

Gothic cathedral in Milan at sunrise with pink clouds, in a spacious plaza with few people walking around. Majestic and serene atmosphere.

Duomo di Milano

Construction on the city's lavish cathedral began in 1386 and wasn't completed until 1965 thanks to a mix of changing architects, war, politics and changing architectural styles.

That is almost 600 centuries! It is a must-see while you are in Milan.

The Secrets Of A Well-Fitting Italian Suit

Italy’s illustrious, family-run tailoring house Sartoria A Caraceni, in Milan, is known for making some of the world’s most beautiful jackets and trousers.

Visit the tailoring house for a masterclass in their cutting techniques from Carlo Andreacchio and his son Massimiliano Andreacchio Caraceni.

Watch this You Tube video for more.

Great Art Explained: The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper. Thirteen people sit at a long table in a dim room. They appear to be engaging in conversation. Warm colors and wooden beams create an intimate setting.

Milan, 1494: Everyone who met Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) described him as a genius. Yet, he was now 42 years old in an era when life expectancy was 40 and he still hadn’t produced anything that would be considered a masterpiece by his contemporaries.

Many of his works were unfinished or in private collections; there were no great public works that people could see. Then, he was asked to paint a wall.

See the story in the You Tube Video

Cortina d'Ampezzo: Mountain History

This iconic UNESCO-listed town will host alpine ski events, curling, and all the sliding events - bobsleigh, skeleton and luge.

Paralympic curling, alpine skiing, and snowboarding will also take place at venues around town.

Cortina

The mountain town was also a base for Olympic events during the 1926 Games.

The Pocol War Cemetery

Known in Italian as Sacrario Militare di Pocol, this cemetery and memorial in the town of Pocol, just outside Cortina, honors the thousands of Italian and Austrian soldiers who died in battles in the Dolomites during WWI.

Mountain Warfare On The Italian Front

The craggy peaks of the Dolomite Mountains reflected in a calm lake at sunset, with a rocky foreground and cloud-streaked sky, creating a serene and majestic scene.

The craggy Dolomite mountains made for one of the most brutal and unforgiving battlefields of WWI (1914-1918), and the soldiers who fought here were tougher and more resilient than most.

The Italian, Austro-Hungarian and German soldiers who fought in the Dolomites waged different versions of mountain warfare, but both were subject to the harsh conditions of the peaks.

If you are a history buff like me, watch this documentary, now on You Tube, about mountain warfare in the regions

Verona: Romance and Architecture

The Games' closing ceremonies will take place in Arena di Verona - the city's Roman amphitheater that was constructed in 30CE.

The northern Italian city is famous for its Roman architecture and the two star-crossed lovers of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Inside Verona | The Arena is an excellent introduction to the history and distinctive features of this 1st century Roman amphitheatre, the city's most famous living monument.

Northern Italy: Flavorful Adventure

During the Games, locations around the incredible Dolomites region will host several events.

• The Anterselva (or Antholz) region: The biathlon

• Predazzo and Tesero, in the Valle de Fiemme: Ski jumping, the nordic combined event and cross-country skiing. Paralympic biathlon and cross-country skiing will also be in Tesero.

• Livigno: The freestyle aerials, mogul events and all things snowboarding

• Bormio and the classic Stelvio piste: Alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, a combination of mountain climbing and alpine skiing, will make its Olympic debut here as well.

Explore the Olympic venues, then discover the historic sites, natural wonders and unforgettable flavors that make northern Italy worth a journey any time of year.

The rugged Dolomites have shaped local traditions for centuries, while northern Italy’s cities brim with world-class art, architecture and cuisine.

For some Northern Italian flavor, check out 90-year old Augusta making an easy cheesy pasta.

Creamy pasta garnished with cherry tomatoes and basil on a black plate. Gray stone background with white pebbles creates a rustic feel.

This "Pasta Granny" lives in Italy's Fiemme Valley (near Bolzano), where menudoli is a local specialty. Made with local Puzzone di Moena cheese, which is know for its strong, salty flavor, this is regional cooking at its best.

The Miracle of Alto Adige

In this beautifully shot documentary, wine critic and journalist James Suckling profiles the passionate and persistent wine producers of Alto Adige, one of the most challenging places to grow grapes in the world.

He unveils the stories behind the wines at Alto Adige, from the ardent winemakers working on the steepest slopes to the unique characteristics that this extreme terroir has to offer.

Ready to plan your Milan Winter Olympics journey?

Or perhaps Northern Italy at any time of year is a long wished-for dream of yours. Click the green button; at Global Exotic Adventures it's the start of every journey.