Here’s the 2026 list of Winter Olympic sports for you. The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are set to take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026, in the Italian regions of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. There are 116 medal events across 16 sports, featuring around 2,900 athletes from over 90 nations. This year marks the debut of Ski Mountaineering as an official sport.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, we have included everything you need for the 2026 games: sport overviews, key venues, daily schedule highlights, predicted medal contenders, and a printable checklist/schedule to track the action.
Hosted across multiple clusters (Milan, Cortina, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme), the Games emphasize sustainability by reusing existing venues. Expect intense competition, with powerhouses like Norway aiming to dominate the medal tally again, while the USA targets strong showings in skating and snow sports.
Full List of Winter Olympic Sports (16): Overviews and Medal Events
The full list of Winter Olympic sports at the 2026 Games feature 16 disciplines, including eight new events for gender equality and excitement. While there are not as many events as in the Summer Games, we still get a good number to watch. Here’s a breakdown of each sport, with brief overviews and approximate medal events (totaling 116 across all).
- Alpine Skiing (11 events): High-speed races down snowy slopes, including downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and combined. New: Team combined.
- Biathlon (11 events): Combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Events include sprints, pursuits, individuals, relays, and mass starts.
- Bobsleigh (4 events): Teams rocket down icy tracks in sleek sleds. Includes two-man, two-woman, four-man, and women’s monobob.
- Cross-Country Skiing (12 events): Long-distance skiing races, from sprints to 50km marathons, plus relays and team sprints.
- Curling (3 events): Strategic ice game with stones and brooms. Men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles. Known for its tactical depth and “chess on ice” vibe.
- Figure Skating (5 events): Artistic performances with jumps, spins, and lifts. Includes singles (men/women), pairs, ice dance, and team event.
- Freestyle Skiing (13 events): Acrobatic feats on snow, including moguls, aerials, ski cross, halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air. New: Men’s and women’s dual moguls.
- Ice Hockey (2 events): Fast-paced team sport on ice. Men’s and women’s tournaments. With NHL players returning, expect fierce battles.
- Luge (5 events): Supine sledding at breakneck speeds. Singles (men/women), doubles (men/women), and team relay. New: Women’s doubles.
- Nordic Combined (3 events): Blends ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Individual and team events.
- Short Track Speed Skating (9 events): Chaotic, close-quarters racing on a small oval. Distances from 500m to 1500m, plus relays.
- Skeleton (3 events): Face-first sledding down tracks. Men’s, women’s, and new mixed team.
- Ski Jumping (5 events): Soaring flights off massive ramps. Normal and large hills, plus team events. New: Women’s large hill.
- Ski Mountaineering (3 events – New Sport!): Debut discipline involving uphill/downhill races with skis and skins. Men’s/women’s sprints and mixed relay.
- Snowboard (11 events): Tricks and races on boards, including halfpipe, slopestyle, big air, parallel giant slalom, snowboard cross, and mixed team cross.
- Speed Skating (14 events): Long-track oval races from 500m to 10,000m, plus team pursuits and mass starts.
Key Venues for the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Games span four clusters in northern Italy, utilizing 15 venues for sustainability for the 2026 schedule. Here’s a quick overview:
- Milan Cluster: Milano Ice Skating Arena (figure skating), Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium (Opening Ceremony), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (hockey), Milano Speed Skating Stadium (speed skating), Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena (hockey).
- Cortina d’Ampezzo Cluster: Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (curling), Cortina Sliding Centre (bobsleigh, luge, skeleton), Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre (alpine skiing).
- Valtellina Cluster: Anterselva Biathlon Arena (biathlon), Stelvio Ski Centre (alpine skiing), Livigno Snow Park (freestyle skiing, snowboard), Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park (freestyle).
- Val di Fiemme Cluster: Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium (cross-country, Nordic combined), Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (ski jumping, Nordic combined).
- Other: Verona Olympic Arena (Closing Ceremony).
These venues blend historic charm (like Cortina’s 1956 Olympic legacy) with modern upgrades, ensuring eco-friendly operations.
Daily Schedule Highlights: What to Watch Each Day
I always get confused on what to watch each day when the Winter Games are in a timezone ahead of mine like this year. The action kicks off with preliminaries on Day 0 and runs through 16 days of competition. Times are approximate (local CET; adjust for your timezone). Focus on medal events for bracket fun! (Based on the latest preliminary schedule, subject to change.)
- Feb 6 (Day 0): Curling mixed doubles round-robin; figure skating team event starts; women’s hockey pool play; Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium.
- Feb 7 (Day 1): Medals in men’s alpine downhill, women’s cross-country skiathlon, women’s ski jumping normal hill, men’s snowboarding big air, women’s speed skating 3000m.
- Feb 8 (Day 2): Medals in women’s alpine downhill, biathlon mixed relay, men’s cross-country skiathlon, figure skating team event, men’s luge singles, parallel giant slalom snowboarding, men’s speed skating 5000m.
- Feb 9 (Day 3): Medals in men’s alpine combined, women’s freestyle slopestyle, women’s snowboarding big air, women’s speed skating 1000m, men’s ski jumping normal hill.
- Feb 10 (Day 4): Medals in women’s alpine combined, men’s biathlon 20km, cross-country sprints (M/W), curling mixed doubles, men’s freestyle slopestyle, women’s luge singles, short track mixed relay.
- Feb 11 (Day 5): Medals in men’s alpine super-G, women’s biathlon 15km, women’s freestyle moguls, luge doubles (M/W), men’s Nordic combined normal hill, men’s speed skating 1000m.
- Feb 12 (Day 6): Medals in women’s alpine super-G, women’s cross-country 10km, men’s freestyle moguls, luge team relay, short track (W 500m, M 1000m), men’s snowboarding cross, women’s snowboarding halfpipe, women’s speed skating 5000m.
- Feb 13 (Day 7): Medals in men’s biathlon 10km sprint, men’s cross-country 10km, men’s skeleton, women’s snowboarding cross, men’s snowboarding halfpipe, men’s speed skating 10,000m.
- Feb 14 (Day 8): Medals in men’s alpine giant slalom, women’s biathlon 7.5km sprint, women’s cross-country relay, women’s freestyle dual moguls, short track (M 1500m, W 3000m relay), women’s skeleton, men’s ski jumping large hill, men’s speed skating 500m.
- Feb 15 (Day 9): Medals in women’s alpine giant slalom, biathlon pursuits (M/W), men’s cross-country relay, men’s freestyle dual moguls, mixed skeleton team, women’s ski jumping large hill, mixed snowboarding team cross, women’s speed skating 500m.
- Feb 16 (Day 10): Medals in men’s alpine slalom, women’s bobsleigh monobob, women’s freestyle big air, short track (M 500m, W 1000m, M 5000m relay), men’s ski jumping team.
- Feb 17 (Day 11): Medals in men’s biathlon relay, two-man bobsleigh, men’s freestyle big air, women’s snowboarding slopestyle, team pursuits speed skating (M/W), men’s Nordic combined large hill.
- Feb 18 (Day 12): Medals in women’s alpine slalom, women’s biathlon relay, cross-country team sprints (M/W), women’s freestyle aerials, men’s snowboarding slopestyle, short track (W 1500m, M 5000m relay).
- Feb 19 (Day 13): Medals in women’s figure skating free skate, men’s freestyle aerials, women’s hockey finals, men’s Nordic combined team sprint, ski mountaineering sprints (M/W), men’s speed skating 1500m.
- Feb 20 (Day 14): Medals in men’s biathlon mass start, men’s curling bronze, women’s freestyle ski cross, men’s freestyle halfpipe, short track (W 1500m, M 5000m relay), women’s speed skating 1500m.
- Feb 21 (Day 15): Medals in women’s biathlon mass start, two-woman bobsleigh, men’s cross-country 50km, curling (W bronze, M gold), mixed freestyle aerials, men’s freestyle ski cross, women’s freestyle halfpipe, men’s hockey bronze, ski mountaineering mixed relay, speed skating mass starts (M/W).
- Feb 22 (Day 16): Medals in four-man bobsleigh, women’s cross-country 50km, women’s curling gold, men’s hockey gold; Closing Ceremony at Verona Arena.
Predicted Medal Contenders and Favorites
Based on recent world championships and expert forecasts, here are top contenders by sport (odds and predictions from sources like FanDuel, Polymarket, and Bleacher Report). We also have a full predicted medal tally article up for you to check out too on our Olympic portal.
- Overall Medal Tally Favorites: Norway (61% chance for most golds; strong in skiing/biathlon), USA (17%; excels in freestyle/figure skating), Germany (16%; bobsleigh/luge power).
- Alpine Skiing: USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin (multiple golds expected), Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt.
- Biathlon: Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bø, France’s Julia Simon.
- Figure Skating: USA’s Ilia Malinin (men’s), Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (women’s).
- Freestyle Skiing/Snowboard: USA dominates (Eileen Gu, Shaun White legacies); Canada’s Mark McMorris in snowboard.
- Ice Hockey: USA/Canada women; Canada/USA/Sweden men (NHL boost).
- Speed Skating: USA’s Erin Jackson (500m repeat), Netherlands’ dominance in longer distances.
- New: Ski Mountaineering: Italy/France favorites as Alpine nations.
Norway is predicted to top the table with 15-20 golds, USA aiming for 10+.
Printable Checklist/Schedule
Download this list of Olympic events as a PDF for your brackets! Here’s a simple table to print and check off events to compliment it too.
| Date | Key Medal Events (Highlights) | Notes/Contenders |
| Feb 6 | Opening Ceremony; Prelims (Curling, Figure Skating, Hockey) | N/A |
| Feb 7 | Alpine Downhill (M), Cross-Country Skiathlon (W), Ski Jumping Normal Hill (W), Snowboard Big Air (M), Speed Skating 3000m (W) | Shiffrin watch |
| Feb 8 | Alpine Downhill (W), Biathlon Mixed Relay, Cross-Country Skiathlon (M), Figure Skating Team, Luge Singles (M), Snowboard PGS, Speed Skating 5000m (M) | USA figure team |
| Feb 9 | Alpine Combined (M), Freestyle Slopestyle (W), Snowboard Big Air (W), Speed Skating 1000m (W), Ski Jumping Normal Hill (M) | Aerial tricks |
| Feb 10 | Alpine Combined (W), Biathlon 20km (M), Cross-Country Sprints, Curling Mixed Doubles Finals, Freestyle Slopestyle (M), Luge Singles (W), Short Track Mixed Relay | Curling drama |
| Feb 11 | Alpine Super-G (M), Biathlon 15km (W), Freestyle Moguls (W), Luge Doubles, Nordic Combined Normal Hill (M), Speed Skating 1000m (M) | Nordic endurance |
| Feb 12 | Alpine Super-G (W), Cross-Country 10km (W), Freestyle Moguls (M), Luge Team Relay, Short Track 500m/1000m, Snowboard Cross (M), Halfpipe (W), Speed Skating 5000m (W) | Relay thrills |
| Feb 13 | Biathlon Sprint (M), Cross-Country 10km (M), Skeleton (M), Snowboard Cross (W), Halfpipe (M), Speed Skating 10,000m (M) | Skeleton speed |
| Feb 14 | Alpine Giant Slalom (M), Biathlon Sprint (W), Cross-Country Relay (W), Freestyle Dual Moguls (W), Short Track 1500m/Relay, Skeleton (W), Ski Jumping Large Hill (M), Speed Skating 500m (M) | USA skating |
| Feb 15 | Alpine Giant Slalom (W), Biathlon Pursuits, Cross-Country Relay (M), Freestyle Dual Moguls (M), Skeleton Mixed, Ski Jumping Large Hill (W), Snowboard Team Cross, Speed Skating 500m (W) | Mixed events |
| Feb 16 | Alpine Slalom (M), Bobsleigh Monobob (W), Freestyle Big Air (W), Short Track 500m/1000m/Relay, Ski Jumping Team (M) | Bobsleigh start |
| Feb 17 | Biathlon Relay (M), Bobsleigh Two-Man, Freestyle Big Air (M), Snowboard Slopestyle (W), Speed Skating Team Pursuits, Nordic Combined Large Hill (M) | Team pursuits |
| Feb 18 | Alpine Slalom (W), Biathlon Relay (W), Cross-Country Team Sprints, Freestyle Aerials (W), Snowboard Slopestyle (M), Short Track 1500m/Relay | Aerial jumps |
| Feb 19 | Figure Skating Free Skate (W), Freestyle Aerials (M), Hockey Finals (W), Nordic Combined Team Sprint (M), Ski Mountaineering Sprints, Speed Skating 1500m (M) | New sport debut |
| Feb 20 | Biathlon Mass Start (M), Curling Bronze (M), Freestyle Ski Cross (W), Halfpipe (M), Short Track 1500m/Relay, Speed Skating 1500m (W) | Ski cross action |
| Feb 21 | Biathlon Mass Start (W), Bobsleigh Two-Woman, Cross-Country 50km (M), Curling Finals (M/W), Freestyle Aerials Mixed/Ski Cross (M)/Halfpipe (W), Hockey Bronze (M), Ski Mountaineering Relay, Speed Skating Mass Starts | Packed finals |
| Feb 22 | Bobsleigh Four-Man, Cross-Country 50km (W), Curling Gold (W), Hockey Gold (M); Closing Ceremony | Grand finale |
Stay tuned to SportsBrackets.net for updates, printable brackets, and more Olympic coverage. Who are you rooting for?
