Following years of meticulous preparation, the global sporting spectacle has commenced in Northern Italy. The 2026 Winter Olympics, hosted across the iconic locales of Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo, now welcome the planet’s premier athletes competing on snow and ice. The festivities were inaugurated with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, an event captured by photographer Dustin Satloff of Getty Images.
This edition of the Games is poised to set a significant benchmark for gender equality in winter sports. Achieving an unprecedented milestone, female athletes will constitute a record 47% of all participants, marking the highest representation in the history of the Winter Olympics.
Navigating the Milano-Cortina 2026 Landscape
The event’s unique dual-city format promises a diverse experience, seamlessly blending urban energy with alpine tradition. Spectators and competitors alike will traverse from the vibrant metropolitan streets of Milan to the breathtaking, snow-capped peaks surrounding Cortina d’Ampezzo.
This geographical spread underscores the comprehensive nature of the Games, offering a complete panorama of winter sports disciplines set against distinctly Italian backdrops. The convergence of the world’s athletic elite in these storied locations marks the culmination of an extensive organizational journey, now unfolding for a global audience.