Milano Cortina 2026 at halfway point: record-breaking sport, packed venues and an unmistakable Italian spirit

World-class sport raising the bar

So far, six Olympic records and one world record* have been broken — a clear sign of the extraordinary level of performance on display across the snow and ice venues.

Historic milestones have also defined the first half of the Games. On 14 February, Brazil secured its first-ever Winter Olympic medal when Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed gold in the men’s alpine skiing giant slalom, a defining moment in the country’s Olympic history and a first for a South American nation. 

Athletes from 92 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), plus Individual Neutral Athletes are competing, including Benin, Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates, all making their Olympic Winter Games debuts.

This includes 249 athletes from 74 NOCs supported through Olympic Solidarity scholarships. Together, they have already secured seven medals — including two gold — underlining both the impact of the programme and the continued expansion of winter sports participation worldwide.

Packed venues and energy across the host regions

Across Milan and the mountain regions, the energy inside the venues has been electric. With 1.27 million tickets sold, sessions are playing out in front of vibrant, packed stands.

Beyond the competition sites, more than 250,000 people have visited the Fan Villages, while 17 partner showcasing areas are also offering unique experiences for fans.

Across Milan and Cortina, more than 40 cauldron shows have drawn significant crowds, creating shared moments of celebration and reinforcing the festive atmosphere across the host regions.

Games the world is watching — and engaging with

That energy is not confined to Italy. The world is not just watching — it is engaging at unprecedented levels.

Broadcast and digital partners are reporting record-breaking audiences and engagement across every platform:

• NBC (led by NBC Broadcast Network) is averaging 25.7 million viewers — double the audience for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
• Via its streaming platform Peacock, NBC has already delivered 5.3 billion minutes streamed, up 36 per cent on the entire Beijing 2022 Games.
• Warner Bros. Discovery has described Milano Cortina 2026 as the most streamed Winter Games ever (through their HBO Max and discovery+ platforms).
• By the end of the first weekend, almost 31 million Italians had watched Milano Cortina coverage on Rai - over half of the population.      
• Official Olympic social media handles have generated 7.9 billion engagements, driven by platforms including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
• The Olympics Web & App is on track to surpass 90 million users, including 21 million in the US, well ahead of the 68 million users recorded for the whole of Beijing 2022.

Together, these figures underline the unprecedented global reach and digital engagement of Milano Cortina 2026.

A celebration gathering momentum

At the midpoint, Milano Cortina 2026 stands as more than a showcase of elite competition set against breathtaking backdrops; it has become a celebration shaped by shared pride and genuine connection. Where athletic excellence meets passion, remarkable landscapes and an open welcome to the world, the result is Olympic Winter Games whose impact is being experienced far beyond Italy’s borders.

Any remaining tickets can be purchased here.

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.

*Data as of the end of 13 February 2026.