The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo after their joint bid beat off competition from Stockholm and Are.

The 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will take place in Italy after Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo were announced as hosts.

The Milan-Cortina bid saw off the challenge of Stockholm-Are in a vote at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday.

Cortina staged the 1956 Games, while Italy last held the Winter Olympics in 2006, when Turin was the venue.

“Congratulations to Milan-Cortina. We can look forward to an outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

“The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world.

“The Olympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina 2026 will feature iconic venues and beautiful settings, combining the attractions of a modern European metropolis with a classic Alpine environment.”

The vote count was 47-34 in favour of Milan-Cortina, with one abstention.

Several cities had previously dropped out of the running, even though the IOC relaxed rules over financial guarantees and government support for 2026.

“We have lowered the cost and complexity of developing Games projects, which now serve the long-term development goals of the host communities and have sustainability and legacy at their hearts,” Bach added.

“This has led to a significantly reduced organisation budget and the use of 93 per cent existing or temporary competition venues.”

Beijing in China will stage the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympics. </s> The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Italy after Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo were selected as hosts.

The Milan-Cortina bid saw off the challenge of Stockholm-Are in a vote at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday.

The Italian bid received 47 votes to the Swedish effort's 34, the IOC said, easily clearing the 41-vote threshold to win.

Cortina staged the 1956 Games, while Italy last held the Winter Olympics in 2006, when Turin was the venue.

"Congratulations to Milan-Cortina. We can look forward to an outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

"The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world.

"The Olympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina 2026 will feature iconic venues and beautiful settings, combining the attractions of a modern European metropolis with a classic Alpine environment."

Several cities had previously dropped out of the running, even though the IOC relaxed rules over financial guarantees and government support for 2026.

"We have lowered the cost and complexity of developing Games projects, which now serve the long-term development goals of the host communities and have sustainability and legacy at their hearts," Bach added. "This has led to a significantly reduced organization budget and the use of 93 percent existing or temporary competition venues."

Beijing will stage the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympics. </s> The 2026 Winter Olympics will be staged at the Italian venue of Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo after beating off a bid from Stockholm/Are in Sweden, the International Olympic Committee said Monday.

The Games will run from February 6-22 in 2026. Italy has twice previously hosted the Winter Olympics -- in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo and 2006 in Turin.

Sweden has only hosted the Summer Olympics, in 1912 in Stockholm. IOC members gave the Italian bid the nod by 47 votes to 34.

"It's a historic day and a victory of all Italians," said Italy's interior minister Matteo Salvini.

"Thank you to those who believed in it from the beginning, especially in the municipalities and regions, and tough luck for those who gave up and who did not believe."

Salvini estimated that the Games will generate five billion euros ($5.69 billion) and create 20,000 jobs.

"Congratulations to Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo. We can expect a great and memorable Winter Games in a country with a tradition of winter sports," said IOC president Thomas Bach.

"The passion and knowledge of the Italian fans, combined with the experience of organising events, will create a perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world."

On the road to the 2026 decision, bids from Calgary, Graz in Austria, Japan's Sapporo and Sion in Switzerland fell by the wayside, mainly because of concerns over the cost or a lack of popular support.

A bid by the Turkish ski resort of Erzurum was ruled out by the IOC in October 2018.

The bid by Stockholm and the Are ski area -- which hosted the World Ski Championships in February -- had appeared to be running out of steam a few months ago due to a lack of funding commitments before the government swung behind it.

The 2022 Winter Olympics will be staged in Beijing. AFP SSC SSC SSC </s> Italian snowboarder Michela Moioli and skier Sofia Goggia dab after giving a presentation to the IOC

Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have been announced as the hosts of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted for Italy's joint bid ahead of Stockholm, Sweden.

Skating sports and ice hockey will be held in Milan, while most alpine skiing events will take place in the resort of Cortina.

Other snow sports will be held in other venues in the Italian Alps, including Bormio and Livigno.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from 6 to 22 February and the 2026 Winter Paralympics will be held from 6 to 15 March.

Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: 6-22 February, 2026 Winter Paralympics: 6-15 March, 2026

Cortina previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, while Turin staged the 2006 edition of the Games.

There were only two candidates left after four other bidders - the Swiss city of Sion, Japan's Sapporo, Graz in Austria and the Canadian city Calgary, which hosted in 1988 - had earlier dropped out of the race with concerns over the event's size and cost.

IOC president Thomas Bach opens the envelope announcing Milan-Cortina has won the bid

The results showed Milan-Cortina had received 47 out of the 82 votes cast.

Sweden has never hosted a Winter Games before and the wait goes on after its Stockholm-Are bid - based around the capital and its largest ski resort, but also including Latvian city Sigulda - received 34 votes. There was one abstention/blank vote.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: "Congratulations to Milan-Cortina. We can look forward to an outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country.

"The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world."

Delighted members of the winning delegation shouted "Italia, Italia" as the decision was announced. </s> Italian bid of Milan-Cortina voted by IOC members to host 2026 Winter Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Italian bid of Milan-Cortina voted by IOC members to host 2026 Winter Olympics. </s> MILAN, Italy - Milan-Cortina has won the right to host the 2026 Winter Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced the decision Monday.

IOC officials voted between the Italian bid and one from the Swedish city of Stockholm-Are.

The announcement marks the Winter Olympics' return to Europe, with the event having been hosted by Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018 and the Chinese city of Beijing staging the Games in 2022.

Italy has twice hosted Winter Olympics in the past -- Cortina in 1956 and Turin in 2006 -- but it will be the first held in Milan.

The bidding process has been criticized for the small number of cities on the ballot paper. It's the second time that only two bids have contested the final vote since Russia spent approximately $51 billion on venues and infrastructure for Sochi 2014.

According to the IOC, there were 47 votes in favor of the Italian bid versus 34 votes for the Swedish bid.

"We can look forward to outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country," said Bach, after revealing the decision.

"The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world.

"The Olympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina 2026 will feature iconic venues and beautiful settings, combining the attractions of a modern European metropolis with a classic Alpine environment."

The 2026 Games are scheduled to take place from February 6-22, while the Winter Paralympics will be from March 6-15.

Former US skier Lindsey Vonn, an Olympic champion in 2010 and two-time bronze medalist, had announced her support for the Milan-Cortina bid before the vote took place.

"I'm really hoping that Cortina gets the 2026 Olympics," Vonn said in an Instagram video on the official page of the Italian bid. "I've had so many great memories on that track.

"It's an amazing place, incredibly beautiful and everyone is incredible passionate about winter sports. So please vote for Cortina and hopefully I'll be there on the sidelines."

Mikaela Shiffrin, who won gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 Games, expressed her excitement that the Games were going to be held in Italy.

"I just want to say congratulations to Milan-Cortina for winning the 2026 Olympic Winter Games," Shiffrin said on Instagram.

"Cortina is one of the best tracks that we race at and I am so excited to be competing there hopefully again in 2026 at the Olympics." </s> For the first time, the Olympic Games will feature two different cities as hosts in its official name. Milan-Cortina will share the glory in northern Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and will be the Games’ fourth appearance in the country. Milan-Cortina beat out Stockholm-Åre for hosting duties Monday as officials convened in Switzerland. Unlike previous Olympics, the bids for 2026 were split among regional hosts rather than individual cities. The decision was effectively between northern Italy and Sweden/Latvia as the International Olympic Committee eased restrictions for hosts to bid together, in an attempt to have the Games use more pre-existing venues and ease the financial burden and eliminate white-elephant venues. Milan will be the base for the 2026 Games, and towns in between Milan and Alpine ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo will also host some events. Italy hosted the Winter Games in Cortina in 1956 and in Turin in 2006, as well as the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. The IOC reported Italy had 83 percent of public support and Sweden 55 percent in favor of hosting the Games in March. </s> Northern Italy was chosen Monday as the site of the 2026 Winter Olympics, with hosting to be shared by the economic and fashion capital of Milan and the ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, as the International Olympic Committee desperately tries to curb waning interest, spiraling costs and white elephant competition venues associated with the games. The Italian bid was chosen over the only other candidate, a dual bid between Stockholm and the ski resort of Are, Sweden, in a vote of 47-34 by IOC delegates. Northern Italy had been expected to win, given that there was much broader public support there and a greater willingness by government officials to offer financial guarantees.

While both bids offered countries where winter sports thrive and where there is experience hosting major events – Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics — the candidacies struggled at times to become convincing choices. And for the second bidding process in a row, the Winter Games ended up with only two finalists after five other potential candidates withdrew or were deemed insufficiently prepared. With fewer cities willing to bankroll the billions needed to operate the Winter Games, the 2026 finalists reflected the IOC’s effort at reform by allowing Olympic hosting to be shared by different cities, different regions and even different countries. The Swedish bid, for instance, planned to hold the bobsled, luge and skeleton events across the Baltic Sea in Sigulda, Latvia, where a refrigerated track already exists. But Stockholm, the Swedish capital, never seemed fully committed, even though the operation of the games was to use no public money beyond security and the maintenance of existing infrastructure and sports venues.

Stockholm had dropped out of the bidding for the 2022 Winter Games for financial reasons — those Olympics were awarded to Beijing — and only slightly more than half of Sweden’s population had supported the 2026 bid. Stockholm officials had declined to sign the official IOC hosting contract, leaving it to Are, its co-host, if the bid was successful. It seemed, too, for a time that an Italian bid might not materialize. Nine months ago, a proposed bid among Milan, Cortina and Turin, which hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics, fell apart in a political squabble among the cities’ mayors. Italy’s sports minister declared the bid dead. It was an embarrassing moment for Italy. Rome had dropped out of bidding for the 2020 and 2024 Summer Games because of financial concerns and political opposition. But the Italian bid for the 2026 Winter Games was recast, and it prevailed Monday in a vote by IOC delegates in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the Olympic committee is headquartered. The IOC’s polling showing that more than 80% of Italians supported the candidacy. The initial operating budget is projected at $1.7 billion, but these costs always rise, often significantly. The IOC has pledged to contribute $925 million to organizers from television rights, corporate sponsorships, ticket sales and merchandising. Italy has proposed to spread the 2026 Games among several cities between Milan and Cortina, which are about 250 miles apart. The opening ceremony will be held at Milan’s San Siro soccer stadium, which hosted the 1990 soccer World Cup, and the closing ceremony is scheduled to take place in an amphitheater in Verona.

The costs of hosting the Winter Games drew a jaw-dropping reaction when Russia spent $51 billion to construct and operate the 2014 Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The 2022 Games were awarded to Beijing almost by default as a number of potential host cities withdrew. The only other remaining bidder, Almaty, Kazakhstan — located in a former Soviet republic that gained its independence in 1991 — built only mixed public support for the games, lacked name recognition and had no real experience hosting major international sporting events. Still Almaty narrowly lost by a vote of 44-40. That left Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Summer Games but which does not have much of a winter sports history. It will use some existing arenas from 2008, including the Bird’s Nest stadium. But upon winning the 2022 bid, Beijing officials said they would also rely on an extensive artificial snow-making operation and a high-speed train project that would link Beijing with clusters of venues in the mountains as far as 100 miles away. Bidding for the 2026 Games experienced a similarly withered field of candidates as public interest flagged or rose in opposition in Calgary, Alberta; Sion, Switzerland; Graz, Austria; and Sapporo, Japan. The IOC did not consider a bid by Erzurum, Turkey, as sustainable. </s> Lausanne, June 24 - Milan-Cortina got the 2026 Winter Olympics Monday beating Stockholm-Aare in a vote by the the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It will be 20 years since the last Winter Olympics in Italy, in 2006 in Turin. Premier Giuseppe Conte tweeted "we are proud of this great result! "Italy has won: a whole country that has worked united and compact with the ambition of realising and offering to the world a memorable sporting event. #2026Olympics #MilanCortina. Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said "great satisfaction for the assignation of the 2026 Olympics!. "It's an extremely important result for Italy, the fruit of excellent teamwork, to which the foreign ministry and its diplomatic network are proud to have contributed". Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini said that "Italy, the future and sport win: my thanks to those who believed immediately, especially in the towns and regions, and a pity for those who gave up. "There will be at least five billion euros in added value, 20,000 jobs, as well as so many new roads and sports facilities: with the winter Olympics we will confirm to the world our excellence and our capacities". President Sergio Mattarella applauded at length Cortina-Milan's Olympic win.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are selected to be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.