Airbnb on the road to Milano Cortina 2026
Airbnb is helping to make Milano Cortina 2026 a truly memorable Winter Games edition by connecting visitors with local hosts, creating economic opportunities for communities and celebrating sport through athlete-hosted Experiences.
KEY FACTS
- Listings in 85 per cent of host-region municipalities
- 70,000-bed capacity helping to meet Games-time demand
- 26 athlete-hosted Experiences celebrating sport and culture
- USD 500 Airbnb travel credit offered to each competing athlete
Milano Cortina 2026 will be the most widespread Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in history, extending to mountain towns where traditional accommodation options are scarce or even absent. Airbnb will serve as an essential resource for visitors seeking to stay close to the competitions, while at the same time creating meaningful economic opportunities for families, businesses and local communities that do not typically benefit from major tourism flows.
Partnership Overview
Airbnb became a Worldwide Olympic Partner in 2019, committing to providing travel options that are economically empowering, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. Through this partnership, Airbnb supports the Olympic Movement’s goals of sustainability, legacy and community benefits while creating economic opportunities for people around the world.
Milano Cortina 2026
Expanding accommodation access
With listings in more than 85 per cent of municipalities across the three host regions, Airbnb will help visitors stay close to the action while generating new income for local families and communities. Deloitte estimates that, without Airbnb, the host regions would face a daily shortfall of 52,000 beds during the Games, with Airbnb’s potential capacity being around 70,000 beds. According to Deloitte, hosts welcoming guests could earn an average of EUR 2,400 during the Games.
Celebrating sport through Athlete Experiences
To mark Milano Cortina 2026, Airbnb has launched 26 Experiences hosted by Olympic and Paralympic athletes, giving fans the chance to connect with their sporting heroes. From cycling through Valtellina with Olympic champion Arianna Fontana to learning Para ice hockey with Andrea Macrì, these Experiences allow guests to engage directly with world-class athletes in unique ways.
Supporting athletes on their journey
Since 2020, Airbnb has partnered with the IOC and IPC on two long-term programmes that support Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The Airbnb Athlete Travel Grants provide 1,000 athletes each year with a USD 2,000 grant to help cover travel and accommodation for training, qualification and competition. In addition, the Airbnb500 programme gives every athlete competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games a USD 500 Airbnb travel credit to celebrate their achievements or recharge their batteries after the Games. Following its success at Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024, the Airbnb500 programme will once again be available to all Olympians and Paralympians at Milano Cortina 2026. Together, these initiatives will provide more than USD 40 million in travel support between 2020 and 2028, benefitting over 30,000 athletes worldwide.
Showcasing Italy’s rural heritage
Airbnb is working with UNESCO to protect World Heritage Sites in Veneto, including the Dolomites, and to support the World Heritage Volunteers Initiative across four sites in the region. By encouraging responsible travel to lesser-known destinations, Airbnb is helping to preserve traditions and promote sustainable tourism across the host regions.
Leaving a lasting legacy
Airbnb is committed to leaving a positive legacy around the Games – celebrating Italy’s rich Olympic heritage and ensuring that the benefits of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games extend well beyond the Closing Ceremonies. As part of this commitment, Airbnb is supporting the City of Milan’s Generazione Sport Olympic legacy project, which provides access to sports for underprivileged youth, fostering inclusion and opportunities. In addition, Airbnb is sponsoring the renovation of the legendary Maspes-Vigorelli Velodrome, contributing to the refurbishment of its historic wooden track and preserving an iconic symbol of Italy’s sporting culture for future generations.
Media Contact
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