As the countdown to the Milan-Cortina Olympics reaches 100 days, northern Italy is getting ready to welcome the most geographically dispersed Winter Games in history.
The Games will be centered around two main locations: Milan, the bustling hub of Italy’s industrial north, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, an exclusive winter retreat nestled in the Dolomites mountain range. Travel between these two sites, which are over 400 kilometers apart by road, will take a full day.
Apart from Milan and Cortina, athletes will also compete in three other mountain clusters. The closing ceremony is scheduled to be held in Verona, the largest city in the northeastern Veneto region.
While most of the Games will utilize existing infrastructure, some venues are undergoing renovation or are being constructed from the ground up. Here is a detailed look at the various venues:
MILAN
San Siro Stadium: The iconic San Siro stadium, with its 80,000 seats, will host the opening ceremony. The stadium, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan soccer teams, is slated for demolition post-Olympics to make way for a new team-owned stadium.
Santagiulia Arena: The construction of the new 16,000-seat arena, the main hockey venue for the Games, is on a tight schedule. Despite a delay in a test event planned for December, organizers are confident it will be ready by year-end. New test events are set for Jan. 9-11, just before the start of the Olympics.
According to Milan-Cortina CEO Andrea Varnier, “We are confident that we will have a splendid facility and will be ready for the crucial test event in early January, which is vital as it has never been used before.”
Ice Park: In addition to the Santagiulia Arena hosting ice hockey finals, some matches will be held at the Fiera Milano exhibition venue, which will also accommodate speed skating events. The temporary Ice Park will be set up within the exhibition center’s four pavilions.
Ice Skating Arena: The Forum di Milano will be the venue for short track and figure skating events. This versatile facility, primarily used for basketball, ice hockey, and tennis, underwent renovation in 2017.
CORTINA
Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre: Cortina’s Olympia delle Tofane course will host the women’s alpine skiing events. This renowned slope, a regular stop on the women’s World Cup circuit, previously hosted the world championships in 2021.
Curling Olympic Stadium: Curling competitions will take place in the Olympic Ice Stadium, a relic from the 1956 Games and a filming location for the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Only.”
Cortina Sliding Centre: The revamped sliding center has been rebuilt for the 2026 Games at a cost of 118 million euros. Despite initial opposition, the venue has exceeded expectations, with test events ongoing and final completion scheduled for November.
BORMIO
The Stelvio course in Bormio will host men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering events. Renowned for its challenging terrain, the Stelvio Ski Centre is a fixture on the World Cup circuit.
LIVIGNO
Livigno will showcase snowboarding and freestyle skiing events at the Livigno Snow Park and Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park. The town, near the Swiss border, unveiled the Aerials and Moguls Park last December as the first 2026 Olympic venue.
PREDAZZO
Predazzo will provide a picturesque backdrop for the ski jumping events. With a rich history of hosting ski championships, the ski jumping facility in Predazzo boasts two main ramps for international competitions.
TESERO
Tesero, hosting the cross-country skiing events, boasts a stadium that opened in 1990. The area has a legacy of hosting Nordic skiing world championships.
ANTERSELVA
Anterselva, nestled in the South Tyrol mountains, will host the biathlon competition. The Anterselva Biathlon Arena, a regular host of world championships and World Cup races, has a strong historical connection with the sport.
VERONA
The grand finale at the historic Ver