The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially arrived, with Milano Cortina hosting the prestigious quadrennial festival of snow and ice-based sports. This grand event promises thrilling competitions across 19 days, featuring 116 medal events that will captivate audiences worldwide.
British Medal Aspirations and Past Performance
Following the previous Winter Olympics in Beijing, where Norway topped the medal table with 16 golds, ahead of Germany, the USA, and hosts China, Team GB secured just two medals. Both came in curling, with Eve Muirhead leading the women's team to gold and Bruce Mouat guiding the men's team to silver in the final days of the Games. This time, hopes are significantly higher for more British medals, not only in the curling rink but also in various snow events. British competitors have been achieving regular World Cup wins in disciplines such as snowboarding, snowboard cross, and freestyle skiing, boosting expectations for a stronger performance.
Event Overview and Geographical Zones
Milano Cortina 2026 will commence on 4 February, with the opening ceremony scheduled for 6 February, and will conclude with the closing ceremony on 22 February. The events are strategically divided into four main geographical zones to optimise logistics and spectator experience. Milano will host the ceremonies and sports like ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating. Valtellina is set for freestyle skiing and snowboard events, while Cortina will be home to women's alpine skiing and ice sports such as curling, skeleton, and luge. Val di Fiemme will stage ski jumping and cross-country skiing competitions.
Detailed Day-by-Day Schedule
Here is an in-depth look at the full day-by-day schedule for the Games, including every session for every sport, with all times listed in GMT.
Day 12 (Wednesday 18 February 2026) – 8 Gold Medal Events
- Alpine skiing: Women's slalom run 1 from 9am to 11am, and run 2 from 12.30pm to 2.20pm.
- Biathlon: Women's 4x6km relay from 1.45pm to 3.20pm.
- Cross-country skiing: Men's and women's team sprint free qualification from 8.45am to 9.45am, with finals from 10.45am to 12.15pm.
- Curling: Women's round robin 10 from 8.05am to 11.05am, men's round robin 11 from 1.05pm to 4.05pm, and women's round robin 11 from 6.05pm to 9.05pm.
- Freestyle skiing: Women's aerials final from 10.30am to 12.05pm.
- Ice hockey: Men's quarter-finals at 11.10am, 1.10pm, 3.40pm, and 8.10pm.
- Short track speed skating: Men's 500m quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, plus women's 3000m relay from 7.15pm to 9.05pm.
- Snowboarding: Men's snowboard slopestyle final from 11.30am to 1.20pm.
Day 13 (Thursday 19 February 2026) – 7 Gold Medal Events
- Curling: Men's round robin 12 from 8.05am to 11.05am, women's round robin 12 from 1.05pm to 4.05pm, and men's semi-finals from 6.05pm to 9.05pm.
- Figure skating: Women's singles free skating from 6pm to 10.15pm.
- Freestyle skiing: Men's freeski halfpipe qualification from 9.30am to 11.30am, men's aerials final from 10.30am to 12.05pm, and women's freeski halfpipe qualification from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
- Ice hockey: Women's bronze medal final from 1.40pm to 4.10pm and gold medal final from 6.10pm to 9.10pm.
- Nordic combined: Men's team sprint large hill from 9am to 9.50am and 2x7.5km from 1pm to 2pm.
- Ski mountaineering: Men's and women's sprint heats from 8.50am to 10.10am, with finals from 11.55am to 1.45pm.
- Speed skating: Men's 1500m from 3.30pm to 5.10pm.
Day 14 (Friday 20 February 2026) – 6 Gold Medal Events
- Biathlon: Men's 15km mass start from 1.15pm to 2.20pm.
- Bobsleigh: Two-woman heats 1 and 2 from 6pm to 9.10pm.
- Curling: Women's semi-finals from 1.05pm to 4.05pm and men's bronze medal match from 6.05pm to 9.05pm.
- Freestyle skiing: Women's ski cross qualification from 9am to 10.30am, finals from 11am to 12.40pm, and men's freeski halfpipe final from 6.30pm to 8.20pm.
- Ice hockey: Men's semi-finals at 3.40pm and 8.10pm.
- Short track speed skating: Women's 1500m quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, plus men's 5000m relay finals from 7.15pm to 9.40pm.
- Speed skating: Women's 1500m from 3.30pm to 5.10pm.
Day 15 (Saturday 21 February 2026) – 10 Gold Medal Events
- Biathlon: Women's 12.5km mass start from 1.15pm to 2.15pm.
- Bobsleigh: Four-man heats 1 and 2 from 9am to 12pm, and two-woman heats 3 and 4 from 6pm to 9.10pm.
- Cross-country skiing: Men's 50km mass start classic from 10am to 1.05pm.
- Curling: Women's bronze medal match from 1.05pm to 4.05pm and men's gold medal match from 6.05pm to 9.25pm.
- Figure skating: Exhibition gala from 7pm to 9.30pm.
- Freestyle skiing: Men's ski cross qualification from 9am to 10.30am, mixed team aerials final from 9.45am to 11.35am, men's ski cross finals from 11am to 12.40pm, and women's freeski halfpipe final from 6.30pm to 8.20pm.
- Ice hockey: Men's bronze medal match from 7.40pm to 10.40pm.
- Ski mountaineering: Mixed relay finals from 12.30pm to 1.50pm.
- Speed skating: Men's and women's mass start from 2pm to 5pm.
Day 16 (Sunday 22 February 2026) – 4 Gold Medal Events
- Bobsleigh: Four-man heats 3 and 4 from 9am to 12.20pm.
- Cross-country skiing: Women's 50km mass start classic from 9am to 12.35pm.
- Curling: Women's gold medal match from 10.05am to 1.25pm.
- Ice hockey: Men's gold medal match from 12.40pm to 3.40pm.
- Closing Ceremony: Time to be confirmed, marking the end of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This comprehensive guide ensures fans can follow every moment of the action as athletes from around the globe compete for glory in Milano Cortina.
