Milan is gearing up to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, with the opening ceremonies set for February 6 at the San Siro Stadium. While sporting events will be distributed across various locations in northern Italy, including both indoor ice competitions in Milan and outdoor challenges in the Dolomites and Italian Alps, art enthusiasts attending the games will find a rich cultural landscape awaiting them primarily within Milan's urban heart. This provides a perfect opportunity for attendees focusing on indoor events like figure skating or ice hockey to explore the city's extensive array of artistic venues, as Milan's museums and galleries offer a compelling cultural experience.
For those seeking cultural enrichment, Milan's prominent art institutions are showcasing a variety of exhibitions during the three-week duration of the Winter Olympics. The Fondazione Prada, housed in a former distillery reimagined by OMA, features "Sueño Perro" with previously unreleased footage from Alejandro González Iñárritu's film Amores Perros, and Mona Hatoum's three distinctive site-specific installations, "Over, under and in between." Its photography branch, the Osservatorio, presents Hito Steyerl's video installation The Island. Meanwhile, the Pirelli HangarBicocca, a vast industrial space, will conclude Nan Goldin's "This Will Not End Well" with its evocative slideshows and sound installation on February 15, while Benni Bosetto’s “Rebecca” opens on February 12. The historic Pinacoteca di Brera, famed for its Italian Renaissance collection, will display Antonion Canova's plaster busts in "Beauty and the Ideal," along with Giovanni Battista Sommariva’s miniature collection in "Pinacoteca viaggiante," and an installation of 120 Giorgio Armani garments woven throughout the museum. Additionally, the Museo del Novecento, focusing on 20th and 21st-century Italian art, will feature sports-themed posters by graphic designer Armando Testa, acknowledging the city's Olympic spirit.
Beyond the major museums, Milan's contemporary art galleries offer an equally engaging roster of exhibitions. Emanuela Campoli presents Emily Sunblad’s diverse exhibition "Notti Rosa," while Monica de Cardenas features Claudia Losi's latest tapestries, sculptures, and works on paper in "tempo crudo," alongside drawings by Slawomir Elsner. Galleria Raffaella Cortese showcases Alejandro Cesarco’s text-based creations in "Friends and Family," and MASSIMODECARLO hosts Austyn Weiner's inaugural solo exhibition with the gallery, "Something Borrowed, Something Plum," featuring her abstract paintings. Kaufmann Repetto provides a unique experience with Thea Djordjadze's site-specific installation "Back Facing Front" and Gaëlle Choisne's ceramics and collages in "Exhale/Inhale." Gio Marconi introduces Jonathan Lyndon Chase's first Italian solo show, "Keep thinking nobody does it like you here comes the sunset." Thaddaeus Ropac explores the intersection of art and body through "Body Sign," a dialogue between Valie Export and Ketty La Rocca, and Lia Rumma highlights South African artist William Kentridge's diverse works, including drawings, sculptures, and video installations, in "Sharpen Your Philosophy."
This unique alignment of global sports and rich artistic offerings presents an exceptional opportunity to experience Milan's dynamic cultural scene. Visitors to the Winter Olympics can discover the profound beauty and innovative spirit embedded within the city's art institutions and galleries. This cultural exploration serves as a reminder that major global events can be enhanced by an appreciation for the arts, enriching the experience for all who participate and observe.