The XXV Olympic Winter Games, also known as Milano Cortina 2026, are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026, across the Lombardy and Northeast Italy regions. The Games will be co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, marking the first time the Olympics are officially shared by two cities. Milan will primarily host ice events, while Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys will host other events.
India will participate in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. India's participation in the Winter Olympics began in 1964 at the Innsbruck Games. India has been a modest but persistent presence, although the country has yet to win a medal at the Winter Games. As of October 2025, Arif Mohammed Khan is the only confirmed participant for India, having qualified for the men's slalom in alpine skiing. Other athletes, including Aanchal Thakur in alpine skiing and Bhavani Thekkada in cross-country skiing, are striving to qualify through various competitions like the Khelo India Winter Games and international FIS events. In addition to Arif Khan, India qualified one male cross-country skier through the basic quota. Stanzin Lundup is set to compete in the Men's 10 km freestyle cross-country skiing event.
India's participation highlights ongoing efforts by the Indian Olympic Association and national federations to develop winter sports infrastructure, including training facilities in the Himalayas. Despite facing geographical and climatic challenges that limit winter sports training, the nation is committed to improving its presence in winter sports. The Khelo India Winter Games serve as vital testing grounds for budding winter Olympians. These games, hosted in areas such as Gulmarg and Manali, allow athletes to showcase their abilities and gain valuable experience.
Several venues will be used for the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026. The opening ceremony will be held at the Stadio San Siro in Milan, while the closing ceremony will take place at the Verona Arena. A new 12,000-seat multi-use arena designed by David Chipperfield was constructed in Milan’s Santa Giulia district and will host ice hockey.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will feature 16 sport disciplines, including a new addition, ski mountaineering. Ski mountaineering will feature men's and women's sprints and a mixed-gender relay. Other new events include Women's Doubles in luge, Women's Large Hill in ski jumping, a Mixed Team event in skeleton, Men's and Women's Dual Moguls in freestyle skiing, and Team Combined in alpine skiing.
The motto for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is "IT's Your Vibe". Tina and Milo are the mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, respectively. The Olympic torch relay began on November 26, 2025, in Olympia, Greece, and will conclude on February 6, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The torch is light blue, made primarily of an alloy of recycled aluminum and bronze and runs on bio-LPG, a fuel made from renewable materials.
While India's representation in winter sports is growing, athletes face challenges such as limited training facilities, scattered infrastructure, and funding hurdles. Despite these obstacles, athletes and coaches persevere, driven by a passion for winter sports and a desire to represent their country on the world stage.