CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – JANUARY 31: The Olympic rings (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026, begin in northern Italy and bring the world’s attention back to winter sports. The Games will run from Friday 6 February to Sunday 22 February, with athletes from around the world competing in 16 different disciplines spread across several Italian venues.Opening Ceremony: Date and TimeThe opening ceremony will take place on Friday, February 6, when the Winter Games will be officially launched. For viewers in India, the ceremony will begin at 12:30 PM IST (early hours on February 7), while the local time in Italy will be 8:00 PM CET. The ceremony will officially kick off more than two weeks of high-level competition.
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Although the opening ceremony is scheduled for February 6, the sporting event will begin earlier. The curling action begins on February 4, while the men’s downhill is scheduled for February 7 at 16:00 IST.Key medal events to watchThere are several gold medal events at the Games. The women’s alpine skiing will be held on February 8, followed by the men’s figure skating on February 13.February 19 will be one of the busiest medal days, with the women’s figure skating final, the women’s ice hockey gold medal game and the first ever Olympic gold medals in ski mountaineering, a new addition to the program. The Games will conclude on February 22 with the men’s ice hockey gold medal game, followed by the closing ceremony.India’s participationIndia will be represented by two athletes at Milano Cortina 2026. Arif Mohammad Khan qualified in alpine skiing while Stanzin Lundup will compete in cross-country skiing, continuing India’s presence at the Winter Olympics.Host cities and venuesThe Games will be jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with events taking place across northern Italy. Competition venues include Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, Val di Fiemme and Anterselva, representing Italy’s alpine landscape and winter sports infrastructure.Where to watch live in IndiaIndian viewers can watch the Winter Olympics live on JioCinema, with Sport18 telecast. Viacom18 is the official gaming operator in India.Complete sports list at Milano Cortina 2026The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature 16 disciplines:Alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track speed skating, skateton, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, snowboarding and speed skating.The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games promises a packed and impressive program from start to finish with a multi-city format, new sports and major medal events.
