In February 2026, Milan will officially enter the history of international sport with the arrival of Milano Cortina 2026.But this will be more than a Winter Olympics. It is a shared project, a story that connects cities and mountains, tradition and the future, sport and culture. An event capable of reshaping places, rhythms, and the atmosphere of entire territories.
From February 6 to 22, 2026, for the Winter Olympic Games, and from March 6 to 15, 2026, for the Paralympic Games, Italy will spend nearly six weeks in the global spotlight. Not only competitions, but a continuous presence made of encounters, cultural initiatives, and a new international energy flowing through the cities.
The uniqueness of Milano Cortina 2026 lies precisely here: there is no single center, but a broader, interconnected geography.
Milan becomes the urban heart of the Games, hosting the Opening Ceremony, cultural events, and experiencing an unprecedented winter transformation.
Cortina d’Ampezzo stands as the alpine symbol, where the mountains express the most iconic soul of the Winter Olympics.
Valtellina, with Bormio and Livigno, turns into the stage for high-altitude sports.
Verona hosts the Closing Ceremony, set in one of Italy’s most symbolic and evocative landmarks.
This approach reflects a clear vision of the Olympics: enhancing territories that are already alive and recognizable, without disrupting them, but connecting them through a shared narrative.
But now, let’s uncover a few curiosities 😉
Here’s why Cortina was chosen
Cortina, in this story, is anything but a random choice.
It carries a strong Olympic legacy, having already hosted the Winter Games in 1956, and has long embodied a rare balance of sport, landscape, and elegance. It represents a vision of the mountains as a place to be lived year-round, not only seasonally — which is precisely why Cortina was chosen once again, decades later, as a symbol of continuity, heritage, and renewal for Milano Cortina 2026.
Why the torch relay goes also through Lake Maggiore?
The Olympic Torch Relay for Milano Cortina 2026 is a nationwide celebration, designed to showcase Italy’s culture, landscapes and people long before the Games begin.
After being lit in Ancient Olympia (Greece) in late November, the flame travels more than 12,000 km across Italy, visiting a mosaic of cities, towns and communities in a relay that involves thousands of torchbearers.
Rather than focusing only on traditionally “iconic” or touristic locations, this route was chosen to celebrate the diversity and richness of Italy as a whole — from historic urban centers to lesser-known but beautiful places, demonstrating how the Olympic spirit connects all parts of the country.
In this context, the torch passes through the Lake Maggiore area (including towns like Verbania, Baveno, Stresa, the Borromean Islands and Arona) as part of its journey north.
This segment isn’t about ranking lakes by fame, but about bringing the flame into regions that are deeply representative of Italy’s natural and cultural diversity, giving local communities an opportunity to be part of the national celebration.
Lake Maggiore may not be “the most famous” compared to Lake Como or Lake Garda, but it is an extraordinary landscape where lakes and mountains meet, rich in history, tradition and scenic beauty — a perfect fit for a relay that aims to connect people and places across the country.
If you’d like to see the Olympic torch in person, the torch relay is scheduled for January 14 on Lake Maggiore, as part of the journey toward Milano Cortina 2026.
A strong continuity between the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Another key aspect of Milano Cortina 2026 is the strong continuity between the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Not two separate events, but a single, shared narrative centered on participation, accessibility, and respect for differences.
The Winter Paralympic Games, taking place from March 6 to 15, 2026, will bring disciplines such as para alpine skiing, para snowboard, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling, and para ice hockey to the same mountains and venues. Sports that speak of skill, resilience, and determination — but also of a broader, more inclusive way of experiencing sport and urban spaces.
It’s a powerful message that goes beyond competition, encouraging cities designed for everyone and inviting us to look at places through a wider, more conscious lens. These are values we deeply believe in and continue to explore through our Embrace Experiences project.
During this time, Milan truly enters a limited-edition winter mode.
And Milano Cortina 2026 is a rare opportunity to discover the city from a different perspective — more open, more international, and more attentive to the people who live and move through it. 🙂
For all these reasons, we’ll be there — especially during the Olympic Games — guiding people through hidden corners and unexpected surprises that Milan has to reveal. We look forward to welcoming you with FollowMi Around.💙
Write to us at info@followmiaround.com
