Quick Read
- The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan and Cortina, Italy, is scheduled for February 6, 2026.
- Some competitions, including curling and figure skating team events, will begin before or on the same day as the opening ceremony.
- The Games feature a unique logistical setup, with events split between Milan and the Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
- Team USA’s Ilia Malinin (figure skating), Amber Glenn, Alyssa Liu, Isabeau Levito, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Lindsey Vonn are key athletes to watch.
- The opening ceremony will be broadcast globally, including on NBC and Peacock.
MILAN (Azat TV) – The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, are set to officially open on Friday, February 6, 2026, with a much-anticipated opening ceremony that will mark the formal beginning of the global sporting event. While the world’s attention turns to Italy, some competitions, including curling, have already commenced, building excitement ahead of the grand spectacle.
The ceremony, broadcast across various platforms including NBC and Peacock in the United States, will usher in weeks of intense competition across ice and snow. The unique logistical setup of these Games, split between the major city of Milan and the picturesque Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, presents a distinct backdrop for athletes and spectators alike.
Early Olympic Competitions Underway Ahead of Ceremony
Even before the official flame is lit, the spirit of competition is already active at Milano Cortina 2026. Events such as curling have begun, allowing athletes to vie for early victories and set the tone for the Games. This pre-ceremony start is a growing trend in modern Olympics, designed to manage the extensive competition schedule.
Adding to the immediate excitement, the figure skating team competition is also scheduled to begin on the same day as the opening ceremony. This means that top athletes, including Team USA’s standout figure skater Ilia Malinin, could be seen in action almost immediately, as noted by USA TODAY National Sports Columnist Christine Brennan and Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano on USA TODAY’s The Excerpt podcast.
Key Athletes to Watch as the 2026 Winter Olympics Begin
As the Games officially get underway, several athletes are drawing significant attention, particularly from Team USA. In figure skating, Ilia Malinin, a two-time world champion and four-time U.S. national champion, enters the Olympics as a prohibitive favorite for the men’s gold medal. Malinin, often dubbed the ‘quad god’ for his mastery of quad jumps, is pushing the technical limits of the sport, as highlighted by Boitano, who himself won gold in 1988.
The U.S. women’s figure skating team, featuring three-time U.S. Women’s Champion Amber Glenn, defending world champion Alyssa Liu, and rising star Isabeau Levito, aims to end a two-decade drought for an Olympic medal in women’s singles. Liu, who briefly retired before returning to win a world title, embodies a renewed passion for the sport, focusing on enjoyment over pressure, a perspective shared by Boitano who skates with her.
Beyond figure skating, other American powerhouses like alpine skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn are expected to contend for medals. In ice dance, seven-time national champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, already team gold medalists from Beijing 2022, are strong contenders for an individual gold. Internationally, Japan’s Yuma Kagayama poses a challenge in men’s figure skating, while competitors from neutral countries are also expected to make an impact, particularly in women’s figure skating.
Unique Venues and Logistics of Milano Cortina 2026
The 2026 Winter Olympics stand out for their geographically dispersed venues. Unlike previous Games where events were typically concentrated within a relatively short travel distance, Milano Cortina 2026 requires significant travel between its primary host cities. Christine Brennan noted that this setup means journalists and spectators based in Milan will face a six-to-eight-hour drive to reach events in Cortina.
Milan will host major events such as men’s and women’s hockey, speed skating, and figure skating, serving as a central hub. Cortina and several other smaller towns will host the snow-based events, offering stunning Alpine backdrops for skiing and snowboarding disciplines. This distributed model aims to leverage existing infrastructure across the region, though it presents unique logistical challenges for organizing and covering the extensive Games.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with its split venues and a blend of traditional and emerging talents, underscores the evolving nature of global sports spectacles. The Games are not just a display of athletic prowess but also a test of logistical innovation and an opportunity to showcase diverse regions, all while navigating the immense pressure placed on athletes from around the world.