The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially began on February 6th, marked by an impressive opening ceremony held across four distinct venues in northern Italy. The main festivities unfolded at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium, a significant modernist landmark, featuring a blend of dance and performing arts that celebrated Italian culture and included performances by renowned international artists. Although various competitions had already commenced two days prior, the opening ceremony signaled the full launch of an extensive array of athletic, social, and cultural events. These events are distributed across Milan and three Alpine host regions: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme. The Games are scheduled to conclude on February 22nd with a closing ceremony at the Verona Arena, preceding the Paralympic Games from March 6th to 15th. This large-scale international spectacle places considerable demands on sports facilities, transport infrastructure, accommodation, and tourism capacities, offering early insights into the long-term urban, architectural, and territorial consequences.
A notable characteristic of these Games is their ambitious geographical spread, making them the first Olympic Games to feature two official host cities. This innovative approach necessitates the dispersal of athletes, delegations, and spectators across multiple Italian locations. Athlete accommodations are situated in Milan, Predazzo, Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva, and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Among these six sites, only one new structure was specifically built for the event: the Milano Olympic Village, a design by SOM. This reflects a broader strategic emphasis on the renovation and adaptive reuse of existing infrastructure. The Milano Olympic Village, which welcomed its first residents on February 1st, currently houses 1,559 individuals from 42 delegations. Its construction was completed on schedule, and after the Games, it is slated for conversion into university student housing. The organizers have consistently promoted the reuse of existing venues and facilities as an environmentally conscious strategy. However, this approach also involves prolonged renovation efforts at the local level, leading to some scrutiny regarding its overall impact.
The distributed nature of the Games is a direct response to both the commitment to reuse and the specific territorial requirements of a Winter Olympics. While Milan is primarily hosting ice-based events, including competitions in a new arena designed by David Chipperfield Architects and the conversion of the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center into an ice-skating venue, other events are concentrated in clusters around Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Valtellina and Val di Fiemme valleys. A primary concern surrounding the sports venues revolves around sustainability, particularly the extensive reliance on artificial snowmaking. This technology consumes substantial amounts of water and energy, necessitating significant infrastructural developments in ecologically sensitive areas. Such interventions have drawn criticism from environmental groups and scientists. In response, organizers have pledged to use 100 percent renewable energy and to minimize food waste by donating surplus food to local charities. Additionally, over 20,000 pieces of equipment from the Paris Games were repurposed for use in Milano Cortina 2026.
During the Olympics, host cities transform into vibrant stages not only for athletic competitions but also for elaborate ceremonies, cultural performances, and the continuous flow of people. According to the Fondazione Milano Cortina, the opening ceremony garnered immense attention, serving as a powerful catalyst for audience engagement throughout the sporting event. Such large-scale gatherings require comprehensive arrangements for athletes, their support teams, spectators, and the vast workforce involved, including an extensive network of media centers. In this context, concerns arise regarding the potential impact of visitor accommodation, travel, and consumption on the host territories, leading to discussions about overtourism and increased pressure on existing infrastructure designed primarily for local residents. Amidst a global climate marked by ongoing conflicts and political tensions, the Olympic platform has also served as an arena for public demonstrations and expressions of political views.