Milan is set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, but it's approaching the iconic Games a little differently to accommodate an estimated 2 million visitors.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to run from February 6 to February 22, 2026, with Italy taking the hosting reins for the third time. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are sharing hosting duties to ensure the games go smoothly for athletes, spectators, and members of the press. While Cortina d'Ampezzo, which hosted the 1956 Winter Games, will be home to outdoor events like alpine skiing and bobsledding, Milan is the central hub for indoor sports such as figure skating and hockey.
But that's not all, with competitions also being held in Livigno, Bormio, Val di Fiemme, and Anterselva, and the closing ceremonies taking place in the romantic and often overlooked city of Verona. Experts estimate that the two-week event will attract roughly 2 million visitors, who will travel across northern Italy to witness the Games. This decision to cluster the Olympic events across different cities and towns was guided by the International Olympic Committee (per Time Out Milan), which is promoting it as a sustainable solution that leverages existing venues rather than creating everything from scratch.
In order to meet the demand as the urban hub of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Milan has both refreshed older buildings and commissioned some of today's best architecture firms to improve infrastructure. With Milan acting as a central hub, visitors will be able to easily reach all the mountain locations thanks to a €473 million investment in public transportation. This means even more frequent trains from Milan to the Alpine ski locations, as well as new regional connections to give greater access to all the events. And while Milan is a walkable city, it has still added 46 electric metro cars to its network, which will help keep spectators connected to all the action in town.
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The 2026 Winter Olympics are ushering in a new way to plan the sporting event
When February 6 rolls around, the world's eyes will turn to Milan, where the opening ceremonies will be held in the San Siro Stadium. As the country's largest stadium, the venue has seen its fair share of events, and with a capacity of over 75,000 spectators, there will be more than enough space to enjoy the show. Another key venue, Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center, is an example of an existing space undergoing a transformation. Normally the site of Milan's annual design fair, Salone del Mobile, it will be home to two temporary stadiums that will host speed skating and the preliminary rounds of the ice hockey tournament.
Meanwhile, Fiera Milano Congressi will also be home to the main media center, giving the press a well-connected base for reporting, considering it's near the heart of the city. As for the athletes, those staying in Milan will be treated to new structures in the Porta Romana district designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This Olympic Village is in keeping with the sustainable ideals, as it sees the transformation of a former rail yard and incorporates Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards. Six new residences and two historic buildings will house the world's athletes, with the entire area to be used as student and affordable housing after the Olympic Games.
Spectators will also have no shortage of hospitality options, whether booking stays at incredible Alpine resorts through the official Olympic hospitality provider or taking advantage of Airbnb's dedicated page for Olympic stays. With all these developments, the 2026 Winter Games are on track to usher in a new era of the Olympics.
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Read the original article on Islands.
Category: General Sports
