The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are fast approaching, bringing together over 3,500 athletes from 93 countries for 195 medals across 16 disciplines (including ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut). If you’re wondering “When do the 2026 Winter Olympics start?”, here’s the quick answer: Preliminaries begin on February 4, 2026, with the official Opening Ceremony on February 6 at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium. The Games run through February 22, concluding with the Closing Ceremony at Verona’s historic Arena.
This multi-site event spans northern Italy (Milano for ice events, Cortina for alpine and sliding, Valtellina for freestyle and snowboarding, Val di Fiemme for nordic), emphasizing sustainability and legacy from Cortina’s 1956 hosting. Below is a full timeline of key dates, from pre-Games milestones to post-event highlights-perfect for planning your viewing or travel. We’ve also included a free printable PDF timeline for easy tracking.
For the complete day-by-day competition breakdown, check our updated 2026 Winter Olympics Schedule: Full Day-by-Day Calendar, Key Medal Events, Printable PDF & Venues Guide (Milano-Cortina) (updated January 26, 2026).
Key 2026 Winter Olympics Dates & Timeline
While the short answer to when do the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics start is February 6th, 2026, many fans are interested in the full timeline leading up to the games. Here’s a chronological overview of major milestones (all dates in 2026 unless noted):
- December 2025 – January 2026: Torch Relay & Final Qualifications
The Olympic Torch Relay begins in Rome (Dec 7, 2025) and winds through Italy’s regions, arriving in Milano-Cortina by early February. Athlete qualifications wrap up by late January (e.g., World Cup events in alpine/snowboarding finalize spots; Team USA roster announced Jan 22–26 with 232 athletes, including 18 Olympic champions like Mikaela Shiffrin and Chloe Kim). - February 4: Preliminaries Begin
Early competitions kick off, including training sessions and qualifiers in curling, hockey, and freestyle skiing. This marks the unofficial start-expect live coverage on Peacock. - February 6: Opening Ceremony
The Games officially open at San Siro Stadium in Milan (capacity 80,000; expect a spectacular show highlighting Italian culture, sustainability, and mascots Tina & Milo). Time: ~8 p.m. CET (2 p.m. ET). First medals awarded later that day in some events. - February 6–22: Main Competitions
Full slate of 116 events across 15 venues. Peak medal days: Feb 7–8 (alpine downhill, biathlon relay), Feb 12–15 (figure skating finals), Feb 20–22 (hockey gold medals). - February 22: Closing Ceremony
Wrap-up at Verona Arena (ancient Roman amphitheater; symbolic handover to 2030 host). Time: ~8 p.m. CET (2 p.m. ET). Final medals in cross-country and bobsleigh. - Post-Games: February 23–March 2: Paralympics Follow-Up
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics begin March 6 (same venues), running through March 15-keep an eye for shared highlights.
2026 Winter Olympics Time Zone & Viewing Notes
Events are in Central European Time (CET, UTC+1). For U.S. viewers: Subtract 6 hours for ET (e.g., 2 p.m. CET = 8 a.m. ET), 9 hours for PT. Many events air live early morning, with primetime replays on NBC.
Printable Olympics Schedule
Download our free printable Olympics Schedule: A one-page chronological grid with key dates, milestones, and space for notes (e.g., your must-watch events or medal predictions). For U.S. broadcast details, see our 2026 Winter Olympics TV Schedule & How to Watch: Full U.S. Broadcast Guide – Milano-Cortina. Check medal favorites in our Predicted Medal Tally for the 2026 Winter Olympics: Favorites to Watch in Milan-Cortina (updated Jan 26, 2026).
Super Bowl LX is February 8-get your party setup with our Free Printable Super Bowl Squares Template 2026: Patriots vs Seahawks, then transition to Olympics excitement!
(Last updated: January 26, 2026)
