2026 Winter Olympics to be Held in Milan
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in Switzerland on Monday to bring the winter games back to Milan. Italy last hosted the Winter Games in Torino in 2006, and the games have not been held in the capital region since 1956.
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The Host Cities and Their Significance
The competition will be held between Milan, the alpine town of Cortina d’Ampezzo (about 250 miles away), and several other smaller towns between the two. The spread-out nature of Italy’s plan reflects the trend of a region rather than a single city hosting the Olympics. This trend is meant to better manage the rising costs associated with hosting the games.
Selection Process Highlights
Going into the selection process, Milan’s primary competition to host the 2026 games was Stockholm. The Swedish bid proposed a bobsled track in neighboring Latvia. Moreover, previous contenders—including Calgary, Canada; Sapporo, Japan; and Graz, Austria—withdrew from the competition due to concerns over costs and the implications of hosting the Olympics.
Financial Considerations
To facilitate both Milan and Stockholm’s bids, the IOC relaxed previously strict rules demanding financial guarantees and government support earlier in the process. This marks the second instance since 2014, when Russia spent over $51 billion on the Sochi Olympics, that only two candidates have made it to the Olympic vote.
Projected Budget for the Games
Italy is expected to allocate more than $1.7 billion to successfully operate the Olympics, aiming to ensure a well-organized and memorable event.
Key Dates for 2026 Winter Olympics
The games are scheduled to take place from February 6–22, 2026. This exciting event will follow the next Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, while Tokyo will host the next Summer Olympics in 2020, with Paris and Los Angeles slated to host the Summer Games in 2024 and 2028, respectively.