The future of the Winter Olympics is under threat from the climate crisis, with warming winters already driving a heavy dependence on artificial snow at the upcoming 2026 Games in Italy and raising doubts about the long-term viability of traditional skiing venues.
The Milan–Cortina Games, scheduled for 6–22 February 2026, are expected to require more than three million cubic yards of machine-made snow, according to analysis by the nonprofit news organisation Climate Central. February temperatures in Cortina d'Ampezzo have risen by 6.4°F (3.6°C) since the town last hosted the Games in 1956, while the average number of freezing days per year has fallen from 214 in the decade after those Games to 173 in the most recent decade – a decline of nearly 20 per cent.
Milan, which will host indoor events such as figure skating and ice hockey, has seen February temperatures increase by 5.8°F (3.2°C) over the same period. Climate Central's analysis of 19 cities that have hosted the Winter Olympics since 1950 found they have warmed by an average of 4.8°F (2.7°C). Average February snow depth in Cortina has declined by around 15cm since the early 1970s, increasing the need for artificial snow to ensure safe competition surfaces.
Artificial snowmaking, however, has practical limits, requiring sustained sub-zero temperatures to settle and refreeze properly. When temperatures hover near freezing, organisers face risks including rain-soaked courses, uneven coverage and harder surfaces that can increase the likelihood of athlete injury. A separate study assessing 93 previous and potential Winter Olympics host locations found that while 94 per cent currently meet climate reliability thresholds, that figure could fall to 56 per cent by the 2050s under a mid-range global warming scenario.
The outlook is even more challenging for the Winter Paralympics, held in March. Only 53 per cent of potential host cities currently meet reliability criteria for Paralympic winter events, a figure projected to drop to 24 per cent by mid-century, with high-emissions scenarios leaving only a handful of viable hosts by the 2080s. Surveys show that 94 per cent of elite competitors and coaches are concerned climate change will damage their sport, with shortened seasons forcing athletes to “chase snow” across continents. Long-range forecasts give a 50–60 per cent chance of above-average temperatures in the Milan–Cortina region in February, rising to 60–70 per cent in March. The International Olympic Committee has pledged to make future Games “climate positive” from 2030, but the data suggest warming winters are steadily narrowing the number of places able to host the world's biggest winter sporting events.
