The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are upon us and Italy is ready – almost – to host ‘the greatest show on Earth’.
Some 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries will compete on snow and ice over the next 16 days.
The Games are spread out across hundreds of miles in northern Italy, from fashionable Milan to chic Cortina d’Ampezzo, to the fellow Dolomite regions of Predazzo and Tesero, and the Alpine resorts of Livigno and Bormio.
Here is everything you need to know;
While the action began on Wednesday, the Games officially get under way on Friday when the opening ceremony takes place at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium.
A who’s who of stars are set to appear, including multiple Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Given the vast distances between the Olympic venue ‘clusters’, it’s not possible for all athletes to be in Milan. But fear not, those based elsewhere will not miss out on the fun.
A second ceremony, including its own Olympic cauldron, will take place in Cortina, while other satellite ceremonies will occur in Predazzo and Livigno.
Figure skater Lilah Fear and bobsleigh pilot Brad Hall have the honour of carrying the Great Britain flag. Fear will do so in Milan, while Hall will be in Cortina.
By Anthony Solly
