Felicity Long
Paris 2024 may be behind us, but clients with lingering Olympics fever can already look ahead to the Winter Games in Italy in 2026.
To be held from Feb. 6 to 22, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina will take place over an area of more than 13 square miles, including Cortina d'Ampezzo; Bormio and Livigno in Valtellina; Predazzo and Tesero in Val di Fiemme; and Anterselva/Antholz. Events will also be scheduled in Milan and Verona.
The events on tap include Alpine, cross-country and freestyle skiing; ski jumping; snowboarding; bobsleigh and luge racing; curling, figure and speed skating; and ice hockey, among others.
As you would expect, ski events will take place in the mountain regions, while Milan will host skating competitions and the opening ceremonies. The closing ceremonies will take place in Verona.
It's a good idea to remember that, unlike Paris, where events were more or less centralized, the winter games are spread out, so fans will have to be strategic about where they want to focus their visit.
How to get your tickets
Ticket prices haven't been set yet, but we do know that sales to the public will begin in February 2025. For more on that, check out tickets.milanocortina2026.org/en.
That said, early priority access is available via On Location, an official partner of the Milano Cortina Games via a new Olympic Games Priority Access program that allows visitors to secure their spots ahead of the general sale.
The company will begin sales of ticket-inclusive hospitality and overnight packages in November.\0x202F Packages will include guaranteed tickets to fans' desired events and access to accommodation and entertainment options at various price points.
Options range from in-venue private suites, premium shared lounges and upscale hotel accommodations to more entry-level hospitality offerings for budget-minded travelers.\0x202F
For an even more exclusive access, a Priority Access deposit program is available until Sept. 30. The way it works is that, for a refundable deposit of about $220, fans have first choice of which sporting events they want to see, complete with premium seating, hotel accommodations, dedicated transportation to competition venues, fine dining with well-known chefs and Olympics and Paralympics champion meet-and-greet experiences.
"The synergy between Milano Cortina 2026 and On Location is ... a key part of our strategy, aiming to enhance the fan experience during the next Winter Games," said Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milano Cortina Games, adding that the public ticketing campaign will launch in October.