As anticipation builds for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Australian fans are gearing up to follow the action from afar. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from schedules to rivalries, ensuring you don't miss a moment of the excitement.
When Do the 2026 Winter Olympics Begin?
The 2026 Winter Olympics officially commence in the early hours of Friday, 7 February, Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), with the opening ceremony held at Milan's iconic San Siro stadium. The Games span two weeks, concluding with the closing ceremony on 23 February in Verona, also at 6am AEDT.
Some sports, such as curling and ice hockey, kick off a few days prior to the opening ceremony. Notably, Australia's mixed curling team narrowly missed qualification, despite being ranked number one in December last year, and the nation will not be represented in ice hockey. The men's ice hockey gold-medal game is scheduled for 12.10am AEDT on 23 February, marking the final event of the Games.
Where Are the 2026 Winter Olympics Hosted?
The 2026 Games will unfold across multiple locations in northern Italy, including Anterselva, Bormio, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, Milano, Predazzo, Tesero, and Verona. Athletes will be accommodated in six villages, depending on their competition venues among the 15 sites. This marks Italy's third time hosting the Winter Olympics, following Turin in 2006 and Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics in Australia
Australian viewers can catch all the action through various platforms. The Guardian will provide live blogging for 12 hours daily throughout the Games. Additionally, coverage is available on the Nine Network and Nine Now, with streaming options on Stan Sport. Given that northern Italy is 10 hours behind AEDT, daily schedules typically start around 9am local time, which translates to 7pm AEDT.
For regular updates, fans can sign up for the Winter Olympics 2026 daily briefing newsletter, offering highlights and previews of upcoming events.
What's New in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
A significant addition to the 2026 Games is ski mountaineering, or skimo, which features uphill skiing on skins, hiking with skis, and downhill racing. This sport will include three medal events: men's sprint, women's sprint, and mixed relay.
Beyond this, several new events have been introduced within existing sports, such as luge, ski jumping, skeleton, freestyle skiing, and alpine skiing. Approximately 3,000 athletes from 92 countries, along with Independent Olympic Athletes, will compete for 116 medals over the two-week period. Looking ahead, ski mountaineering aims to expand by 2030, with potential additions like cross-country running and cyclocross in the French Alps.
Who Will Top the Medal Table?
Norway has led the medal table in the past two Winter Olympics, securing 16 gold, eight silver, and 13 bronze medals in 2022, ahead of Germany and the United States. The 2022 Beijing Games were dominated by European and North American nations, with China ranking as the highest Asian country at number four.
How Will Australia Perform?
Australia is sending its second-largest team ever, with 53 athletes competing in Milano Cortina. Recent successes on the World Cup circuit suggest the potential for a record medal haul. In the 2022 Games, Australia finished 18th on the medal table, just behind New Zealand and ahead of Great Britain, with one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
Among the returning medallists, mogul skier Jakara Anthony and snowboarders Scotty James and Tess Coady are expected to build on their Beijing performances, while skeleton silver medallist Jaclyn Narracott will not be competing. Other athletes to watch include teenager Indra Brown in freeski halfpipe and Valentino Guseli in snowboard halfpipe.
Are There Any Heated Rivalries?
In terms of sporting rivalries, the return of NHL stars to ice hockey after a 12-year hiatus due to contract issues and Covid is a major highlight. A notable matchup includes the USA versus Denmark on Valentine's Day, adding a layer of geopolitical intrigue.
For Australian fans, the snowboard halfpipe competition between Scotty James and Valentino Guseli is one to watch, though it is not expected to carry the same diplomatic tensions as the ice hockey events.
