MILAN — The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will open Friday in northern Italy, marking the return of the Games to the European Alps for the first time in 20 years as organizers finalize preparations across multiple venues.
The Games will span about 350 kilometers from Milan to Cortina, using mostly existing facilities to limit new construction. Organizers said the approach supports sustainability goals but has added logistical challenges due to the distance between competition sites.
Sports competitions will begin Wednesday, followed by the official opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan. The ceremony will feature performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to attend.
Italy said it will maintain control of security operations after reports that a branch of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will serve in an advisory role.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) requires Russia’s 13 qualified athletes to compete as neutrals following the country’s invasion of Ukraine shortly after the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
Attention has focused on American skier Lindsey Vonn, who is attempting a comeback at age 41. Vonn said she injured her left knee in a World Cup crash in Switzerland on Friday but stated that her “Olympic dream is not over.” She is expected to provide an update Tuesday.
The men’s ice hockey tournament will feature National Hockey League players for the first time since 2014.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry will oversee her first Olympics since her election in March. She said the use of existing venues has “added additional complexities in the delivery of the Games.”
Two venues have drawn scrutiny: the sliding center in Cortina for bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge events, and the main ice hockey arena in Milan’s Santa Giulia district. Italy moved forward with building the Cortina track in 2024 despite earlier suggestions to use existing facilities in neighboring countries. The venue received pre-approval in March last year.
Construction delays at the Santa Giulia arena raised uncertainty about NHL participation until organizers successfully held a test event less than a month ago. Officials said some areas remain unfinished but confirmed that scheduled games will proceed.
Organizers estimate the Olympics will cost 5.2 billion euros (about $6 billion), including 3.5 billion euros for infrastructure and 1.7 billion euros for staging the Games.