The 2026 Winter Olympics are poised to be the most geographically dispersed Games in history, with events taking place across multiple regions in northern Italy. The Games, scheduled to begin January 19, 2026, will be co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, cities approximately 250 miles apart.
Athletes will compete in 16 sports across 25 venues, spread across four main clusters: Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme. To accommodate the athletes, six Olympic Villages will be established in Milan, Cortina, Anterselva, Bormio, Livigno, and Predazzo.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated on Olympics.com that this approach maximizes the use of existing venues, reducing the need for new construction and minimizing the carbon footprint. The venues span an area covering approximately 8,495 square miles.
The dispersed nature of the Games presents logistical challenges in transportation and coordination. Details on transportation infrastructure and schedules are expected to be released in the coming months.
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