With just over 400 days remaining until the 25th Winter Olympic Games, the organisers have revealed a schedule of events and competitions to evaluate the venues and operations for the upcoming games in northern Italy.
Excitement is growing for the grand opening in Milan, situated in Lombardy, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, nestled in the northernmost province of Belluno within Veneto, one of Italy’s most prosperous regions in the north. Last Friday, Milano Cortina 2026 announced an extensive list of test events for the upcoming winter season. These national and international competitions will play a crucial role in assessing the readiness of the venues and operations for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, scheduled for February and March 2026, respectively.
The programme features a variety of snow and ice events that will showcase the “new Italian spirit”, blending sports, culture, history, and the welcoming hospitality of the host region. Many of these events will be managed by renowned Italian organisations with expertise in hosting top-level winter sports competitions. They will provide a valuable opportunity for the Organising Committee and its partners to implement their plans, simulate Games conditions, and adjust operational processes to accommodate the climatic and geographical challenges.
The event calendar will begin on 28 and 29 December with the FIS Men’s Alpine Skiing World Cup on the iconic Stelvio slope in Bormio. Built in 1985 and located on Mount Vallecetta, it is considered one of the three most challenging downhill courses in the world. The first competition in 2025 will be the final stage of the Tour de Ski, taking place from 3 to 5 January on the slopes of Val di Fiemme in the Trentino province, nestled in the Dolomites of northern Italy.
On 18 and 19 January, the spotlight will be on Cortina, which will host the FIS Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup on the legendary Olympia delle Tofane run. Anterselva will also be in the spotlight, as it hosts the IBU Biathlon World Cup from 23 to 26 January. This town in Bozen/Bolzano has a unique cultural heritage, with 97.5% of the population speaking German as their mother tongue, and Italian and Ladin as secondary languages – a testament to the area’s historical political and cultural struggles.
Anterselva is only 20 km from San Candido, the birthplace of Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one tennis player and ambassador of the Winter Games. In the Paralympic sphere, Val di Fiemme will host the Para Biathlon World Cup at the end of January, followed by the Cross-Country Skiing Circuit on 1 and 2 February. Both events will take place on the same tracks and welcome Paralympic athletes in March 2026. The Milan Ice Arena will be the hub of sports activities in February. From 14 to 16 February, the arena will host the ISU Short Track World Tour Finals, where the season’s champions will be crowned.
Later that week, the arena will also host the “Road to 26” Trophy, an international figure skating competition. Ski mountaineering, which will make its Olympic debut at Milan Cortina 2026, is being prepared for in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy. The town of Bormio will host the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup on 22 and 23 February, while neighbouring Livigno will conclude this initial testing phase with the FIS Aerials and Moguls tournament from 8 to 14 March. The Winter Olympic Games will take place from Friday 6 to Sunday 22 February 2026, followed by the Paralympic Games from Friday 6 to Sunday 15 March 2026. Members of the public can register until 15 January 2025 to participate in the Early Access Ticket Lottery starting on 6 February.
General ticket sales will begin two months later. Tickets and hospitality packages will only be available through official Milano Cortina 2026 channels to ensure security and authenticity, according to organisers.
