The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will run from February 6 to 22, 2026. This is a major event for Italy. Venues cover the landscapes of northern Italy and stretch from Milan to the Dolomites. The Games promise athletic competitions but also offer economic benefits for the host regions.
A study by Italian bank Banca IFIS projects €5.3 billion in economic benefits for Italy. This amount falls into three categories: 1/ €1.1 billion comes from spending by spectators, athletes, and staff at venues. This aids local hospitality, retail, and services. 2/ €1.2 billion comes from future tourism. Visitors may return or stay longer in the 12 to 18 months after the event. 3/ €3 billion comes from the value of new and renovated infrastructure. This creates a foundation for regional growth.
About 2.5 million visitors of the 2026 Winter Olympics will drive this growth. Restaurants, shops, and tourist services will benefit greatly. Ticket sales show strong enthusiasm. Buyers have purchased hundreds of thousands of tickets in recent phases. Excitement rises as the opening ceremony nears.
The organizers focus on sustainability and chose existing venues for 11 out of 13 sites. Many of these sites hosted major international events like World Cups. This plan keeps the budget near €5.2 billion and infrastructure costs at €3.5 billion. Operations cost €1.7 billion. This is supposed to limit the environmental harm.
Key locations include Bormio and Cortina d'Ampezzo for alpine skiing. Anterselva hosts biathlon. Val di Fiemme hosts Nordic events. Livigno hosts snowboarding and freestyle. Ice sports will take place in Milan. The city will use temporary structures to avoid expensive permanent buildings.
The 2026 Winter Olympics cover 22,000 km² across seven zones. These range from the Dolomites to the Po Valley and Veneto. The area shows Italy's diverse winter scenery.
Optimism is high, but challenges remain in the final steps. Reports note ongoing logistical changes. Work continues on artificial snow systems in Livigno. Progress continues at Milan's Santa Giulia Arena for ice hockey. The controversial bobsleigh track in Cortina finished on schedule. Organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier is confident and stated, "We are entering the final stretch and seeing the results of our collective work."
The torch relay builds public interest and the cold weather helps snow preparations. Past Olympics show that success continues after the Games but cities must turn infrastructure into useful assets. They must use global visibility to help tourism and local economies long-term.
Milano Cortina 2026 sets a model for future Winter Games. It mixes spectacle, economy, and environmental care in a beautiful setting.
