As Milano Cortina 2026 approaches, venues go live and the Olympic spirit sweeps across Italy
With the Opening Ceremony just days away, the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games have entered the final phase of delivery: the Olympic Villages are welcoming athletes, the media centres are operational, the competition venues are active, and cities and mountain communities are visibly embracing the Games – building anticipation as Italy prepares to welcome the world.
Key facts
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Public engagement: Excitement is building nationwide, fuelled by the Olympic Torch Relay, visible Games branding and strong ticket demand.
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People behind the Games: Delivery is being supported by around 1,600 Organising Committee staff and 18,000 volunteers, representing around 100 countries.
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Games readiness: Competition and non-competition venues are now operational and getting ready to deliver spectacular events as the Opening Ceremony approaches.
With the Opening Ceremony just days away, the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games have entered the final phase of delivery: the Olympic Villages are welcoming athletes, the media centres are operational, the competition venues are active, and cities and mountain communities are visibly embracing the Games – building anticipation as Italy prepares to welcome the world.
Speaking about this, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry said: “Things are running really well – there is lots of excitement. Athletes are starting to arrive.”
Things are looking really positive, and we’re seeing lots of good things happening around the city and throughout the regions. We’re very excited – we’ve been watching and witnessing the Olympic Torch Relay – that has been going extremely well. Thank you to all the millions of people who have come out to witness that, to cheer, and to create the [positive] environment. Now we’re looking forward to the next couple of days as we get closer to the Opening Ceremony.
Years of planning and preparation are now translating into live Games-time operations across Milan, Cortina and the other host mountain regions, which will be delivered by a large, international workforce, with the Milano Cortina 2026 team highlighting the scale and diversity behind Games-time operations. Around 1,600 full-time staff of 62 nationalities are currently in place – 71 per cent of whom are under the age of 40. They are being supported by approximately 18,000 volunteers, representing 98 nationalities and almost equally split by gender. Around 48 per cent of volunteers are under the age of 35, reflecting strong engagement from younger generations.
In updates to the IOC Executive Board (EB), the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee and IOC Coordination Commission Chair, Kristin Kloster, confirmed that core Games systems are now operational and that services for athletes, media and stakeholders are already being delivered.
World-class venues set within extraordinary natural beauty
The Organising Committee explained that a significant number of competition and non-competition venues have now been delivered, offering outstanding fields of play for athletes while showcasing Italy’s extraordinary natural beauty. From iconic mountain locations to urban settings, the last preparations are being completed as venues move into training and competition mode.
Athletes and media experience the Games first-hand
The arrival of the first athlete delegations has provided a crucial real-world test of Games-time systems – and early signals are encouraging. The Olympic Villages across Milan, Cortina and the other mountain clusters are welcoming athletes, with dining halls, communal areas and support services already in use. Feedback so far has been extremely positive.
Media operations have also begun smoothly. The Main Media Centre and venue media facilities are now open, providing journalists and broadcasters with operational workspaces as coverage of the Games begins to take shape.
Behind the scenes, Games-time delivery is being coordinated through three fully active central hubs – the Main Operations Centre, Technology Operations Centre and Transport Operations Centre. In parallel, organisers expect around 2,000 accredited arrivals per day in the coming days, reflecting the scale of final pre-Games logistics.
Olympic Torch Relay unites communities and fuels anticipation
During the IOC EB meeting, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee reported that few symbols capture the emotion of the Olympic Games like the Olympic flame – and across Italy, the Olympic Torch Relay is proving to be a powerful catalyst for engagement. As it travels through cities, towns and villages, the flame is bringing people together, activating public spaces and carrying a message of harmony and peace at a time when this resonates deeply around the world.
Alongside the Relay, it was noted that the growing presence of Games branding, live sites and partner activations will help to transform host locations into shared spaces of celebration. From city centres to mountain communities, these visible signs of the Olympic Games are building anticipation and inviting people to feel part of Milano Cortina 2026 well before the first competition begins.
San Siro prepares for a historic Opening Ceremony
Final preparations are intensifying at Milan’s San Siro Olympic Stadium, where thousands of staff and contractors are currently on site as work continues around the clock to get the venue ready for the Opening Ceremony on 6 February 2026.
While tickets are selling fast, fans still have time to plan unforgettable in-person experiences across the host regions. From the dramatic mountain settings of Livigno and Cortina d’Ampezzo to the heart of Milan, tickets, hospitality and accommodation remain available for competitions that will unfold amid extraordinary natural beauty – offering spectators the chance to experience the excitement, atmosphere and emotion of Milano Cortina 2026 up close.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from 6 to 15 March 2026.
In recognition of Visa's long-standing partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Visa is the preferred and official way to pay at Milano Cortina 2026.