The 2026 Winter Olympics Are Here—Dates, Events, and Who’s Competing for Team USA

Cold weather, hot competition! For the third time, Italy is set to stage the Winter Olympics. This time around, the games will make history as the first to be hosted by two cities: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Close to 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries are expected to compete in the XXV Winter Olympic Games, kicking off today—Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026!

This year’s U.S. Winter Olympic Team is one of the largest ever with 232 athletes—including many returning Olympians such as Lindsey Vonn (Alpine skiing), Chloe Kim (snowboarding) and Ilia Malinin (figure skating).

Rocky Harris—USOPC Chief of Sport and Athlete Services and Team USA Chef de Mission—described the 2026 Team USA roster as “a team full of proven champions and fearless newcomers that have the potential to take Team USA’s winter performance to a new level—and inspire a nation in the process.”

Before the action begins, here is everything to know about the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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When do the 2026 Winter Olympics start?

The 2026 games commence today—Wednesday, Feb. 4—two days before the Opening Ceremony. Due to the packed schedule, preliminary rounds for curling and women’s ice hockey will kick off early to ensure all events fit into the 19-day window.

Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics taking place?

Italy is hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, with events spread across the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are the main hosts, but competitions will also be held in Verona, Livigno, Bormio (home of the famous Stelvio slope), Anterselva, Predazzo and Tesero.

Related: Why Are Two Different Cities Hosting the Olympics for the First Time?

When is the Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium.

What time does the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony start?

The opening ceremony starts at 8 p.m. local time, so 2 p.m. ET, which is when NBC’s live coverage will begin. An “enhanced encore” will air later—at 8 p.m. ET—on NBC, Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms. 

Who is performing at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?

The confirmed lineup of performers is a mix of global superstars and Italian icons, including:

• Mariah Carey
• Andrea Bocelli
• Laura Pausini (Italian singer-songwriter)
• Lang Lang (Chinese pianist)
• Cecilia Bartoli (Italian mezzo-soprano)
• Ghali (Italian-Tunisian rapper)
• Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus alum)
• Pierfrancesco Favino (Italian actor)
• Matilda De Angelis (Italian actress and narrator)

How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony?

The opening ceremony will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. The coverage will be hosted by NBC Sports commentator Terry Gannon. TODAY’sSavannah Guthrie was slated to co-host, but on Feb. 3, 2026, NBC Sports released the following statement: “Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother. We will share additional information about our Opening Ceremony coverage plans soon.”

Related: Savannah Guthrie’s Mom: TMZ Reports Receiving Unverified Ransom Note About Nancy Guthrie

How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics?

NBCUniversal is broadcasting the Games across multiple platforms. Here’s the most up-to-date viewing guide:

• NBC: This year, the network will air over 230 hours of coverage—more than any previous Winter Olympics. Viewers can expect at least five hours of daytime coverage daily—including live finals for skiing, snowboarding, figure skating and hockey.
• Peacock: This is the Winter Games’ epicenter: Peacock will stream every sport and event live, plus all medal ceremonies.
• USA Network: Billed as the “24/7 home of Team USA,” this channel will feature round-the-clock coverage of American athletes.
• CNBC: Coverage will air on weekends and weekdays after its business day programming ends. 

What will Team USA wear at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Since 2008, Ralph Lauren has outfitted the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams. At the 2026 opening and closing ceremonies, Team USA will once again be sporting uniform apparel and accessories from Ralph Lauren, which are available for purchase at RalphLauren.com, TeamUSAShop.com and select stores in the United States and Italy.

“Ralph Lauren has had the immense privilege of outfitting Team USA for nearly 20 years, and the significance and sheer magnitude of dressing our nation’s incredible athletes—on the most dramatic stage in sport as they pursue their lifelong dreams—is an honor that never fades,” said David Lauren, Chief Branding and Innovation Officer at Ralph Lauren Corporation.

“Our design philosophy has always been about creating dreams and telling stories through style, and these uniforms, both timeless and modern, reflect the passion, optimism, and relentless pursuit of excellence that embody the American spirit,” he continued. “With Milan—one of the great fashion capitals—as this year’s backdrop, we sought to honor the city’s creative spirit while staying true to the enduring style that defines Ralph Lauren.”

Related: 125 Olympics Trivia Questions and Answers to Test Your Knowledge of the Games’ History

How many athletes make up Team USA?

232 athletes will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. This marks the second-largest U.S. delegation in Winter Games history.

How many Team USA members are returning for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skiing), Evan Bates (figure skating), Jessie Diggins (cross-country skiing) and Chloe Kim (snowboarding) are among the 98 athletes who have previously competed in the Olympics and who are returning for the 2026 Games.

Will Lindsey Vonn compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The week before the start of the 2026 Olympics, Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to a hospital after falling in the Crans Montana downhill. In a message shared on Instagram on Jan. 30, the alpine ski racer, who was set to compete in the Games, wrote: “I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams. This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback. My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it.”

On Sunday, Feb. 1, her coach—Chris Knight—told the Associated Press via text message: “She is not racing today but preparing for Cortina as usual.” On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Vonn shared the following post on Instagram, updating her fans on her injuries—an ACL tear and bone bruise. However, she remains determined to compete in the Winter Games.

View this post on Instagram

Olympic Newcomers to watch:

• Ilia Malinin (“The Quad God”): As gold medalist Scott Hamilton previously told Parade, this 21-year-old figure skating phenom is favored to win it all. The two-time World Champion will make his Olympic debut in Milan.
• Abby Winterberger: At just 15 years old, this California freeskier is making history as the youngest member of Team USA. She will be competing in the halfpipe.
• Rich Ruohonen: On the flip side, keep an eye on this 54-year-old curler, who is the oldest athlete on the roster—proving age is just a number!

Related: What Do the Olympic Rings Symbolize?

Which sports will the 2026 Winter Olympics include?

This year’s Winter Games will feature 16 sports:

• Alpine Skiing
• Biathlon
• Bobsleigh
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Curling
• Figure Skating
• Freestyle Skiing
• Ice Hockey
• Luge
• Nordic Combined
• Short Track Speed Skating
• Skeleton
• Ski Jumping
• Ski Mountaineering
• Snowboard
• Speed Skating

What is the full Team USA roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Alpine Skiing

• Amelia Hurt
• Breezy Johnson
• Bryce Bennett
• Isabella Wright
• Jacqueline Wiles
• Katherine Hensien
• Keely Cashman
• Kyle Negomir
• Lindsey Vonn
• Mary Bocock
• Mikaela Shiffrin
• Nina O’Brien
• Paula Moltzan
• River Radamus
• Ryan Cochran-Siegle
• Ryder Sarchett
• Sam Morse

Biathlon

• Campbell Wright
• Deedra Irwin
• Joanne Reid
• Lucinda Anderson
• Margaret Freed
• Maxime Germain
• Paul Schommer
• Sean Doherty

Bobsled

• Azaria Hill
• Boone Niederhofer
• Bryan Sosoo
• Caleb Furnell
• Carsten Vissering
• Elana Meyers Taylor
• Frank Del Duca
• Hunter Powell
• Jadin O’Brien
• Jasmine Jones
• Joshua Williamson
• Kaillie Humphries
• Kaysha Love
• Kristopher Horn

Cross-Country Skiing

• Ben Ogden
• Gus Schumacher
• Hailey Swirbul
• Hunter Wonders
• Jack Young
• James Schoonmaker
• Jessie Diggins
• John Steel Hagenbuch
• Julia Kern
• Kendall Kramer
• Lauren Jortberg
• Novie McCabe
• Rosie Brennan
• Samantha Smith
• Zak Ketterson
• Zanden McMullen

Curling

• Aidan Oldenburg
• Aileen Geving
• Benjamin Richardson
• Cory Thiesse
• Daniel Casper
• Korey Dropkin
• Luc Violette
• Rich Ruohonen
• Tabitha Lovick
• Tara Peterson
• Taylor Anderson

Figure Skating

• Alysa Liu
• Amber Glenn
• Andrew Torgashev
• Anthony Ponomarenko
• Christina Carreira
• Daniel O’Shea
• Ellie Kam
• Emilea Zingas
• Emily Chan
• Evan Bates
• Ilia Malinin
• Isabeau Levito
• Madison Chock
• Maxim Naumov
• Spencer Howe
• Vadym Kolesnik

Freeski

• Abby Winterberger
• Alexander Ferreira
• Alexander Hall
• Avery Krumme
• Birk Irving
• Grace Henderson
• Hunter Hess
• Kate Gray
• Konnor Ralph
• Mac Forehand
• Marin Hamill
• Nicholas Goepper
• Rell Harwood
• Riley Jacobs
• Svea Irving
• Troy Podmilsak

Freestyle Skiing

• Charlie Mickel
• Christopher Lillis
• Connor Curran
• Derek Krueger
• Dylan Walczyk
• Elizabeth Lemley
• Jaelin Kauf
• Kaila Kuhn
• Kyra Dossa
• Landon Wendler
• Nick Page
• Olivia Giaccio
• Quinn Dehlinger
• Tasia Tanner
• Tess Johnson
• Winter Vinecki

Ice Hockey: Men’s

• Auston Matthews
• Braeden Tkachuk
• Brock Faber
• Brock Nelson
• Charles McAvoy
• Clayton Keller
• Connor Hellebuyck
• Dylan Larkin
• J.T. Miller
• Jaccob Slavin
• Jack Hughes
• Jackson LaCombe
• Jake Guentzel
• Jake Oettinger
• Jake Sanderson
• Jeremy Swayman
• John Eichel
• Kyle Connor
• Matt Boldy
• Matthew Tkachuk
• Noah Hanifin
• Quinn Hughes
• Tage Thompson
• Vincent Trocheck
• Zach Werenski

Ice Hockey: Women’s

• Abbey Murphy
• Aerin Frankel
• Alexandra Carpenter
• Ava McNaughton
• Britta Curl-Salemme
• Caroline Harvey
• Cayla Barnes
• Grace Zumwinkle
• Gwyneth Philips
• Haley Winn
• Hannah Bilka
• Hayley Scamurra
• Hilary Knight
• Joy Dunne
• Kelly Pannek
• Kendall Coyne Schofield
• Kirsten Simms
• Laila Edwards
• Lee Stecklein
• Megan Keller
• Rory Guilday
• Taylor Heise
• Tessa Janecke

Luge

• Ansel Haugsjaa
• Ashley Farquharson
• Chevonne Forgan
• Emily Fischnaller
• Jonathan Gustafson
• Marcus Mueller
• Matthew Greiner
• Sean Hollander
• Sophia Kirkby
• Summer Britcher
• Zachary DiGregorio

Nordic Combined

• Ben Loomis
• Niklas Malacinski

Skeleton

• Austin Florian
• Daniel Barefoot
• Kelly Curtis
• Mystique Ro

Ski Jumping

• Annika Belshaw
• Jason Colby
• Josie Johnson
• Kevin Bickner
• Paige Jones
• Tate Frantz

Ski Mountaineering

• Anna Gibson
• Cameron Smith

Snowboarding

• Alessandro Barbieri
• Bea Kim
• Brandon Kim
• Brianna Schnorrbusch
• Chase Blackwell
• Chase Josey
• Chloe Kim
• Cody Winters
• Faye Thelen
• Hahna Norman
• Hanna Percy
• Iris Pflum
• Jake Canter
• Jake Pates
• Jake Vedder
• Jess Perlmutter
• Lily Dhawornvej
• Maddie Mastro
• Madeline Schaffrick
• Nathan Pare
• Nick Baumgartner
• Oliver Martin
• Red Gerard
• Sean FitzSimons
• Stacy Gaskill

Speedskating (Long Track)

• Brittany Bowe
• Casey Dawson
• Conor McDermott-Mostowy
• Cooper McLeod
• Emery Lehman
• Erin Jackson
• Ethan Cepuran
• Giorgia Birkeland
• Greta Myers
• Jordan Stolz
• Mia Manganello
• Sarah Warren
• Zachary Stoppelmoor

Speedskating (Short Track)

• Andrew Heo
• Brandon Kim
• Clayton DeClemente
• Corinne Stoddard
• Eunice Lee
• Julie Letai
• Kamryn Lute
• Kristen Santos-Griswold

Will there be new sports at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Yes! For the first time, Ski Mountaineering—often called “Skimo”—has been added to the Winter Olympics lineup.

How many medal events will there be at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

There will be a whopping 116 medal events across 16 disciplines.

Will there be new events at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Of the 116 events, eight will be new to the 2026 Games. They include:

• Ski Mountaineering: Men’s Sprint
• Ski Mountaineering: Women’s Sprint
• Ski Mountaineering: Mixed Relay
• Skeleton: Mixed Team Event
• Luge: Women’s Doubles
• Freestyle Skiing: Men’s Dual Moguls
• Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Dual Moguls
• Ski Jumping: Women’s Large Hill Individual

Key medal days

While there are over 100 events, here are some key medal days for figure skating and hockey fans to take note of:

• Saturday, Feb. 7: Men’s Alpine Skiing Downhill
• Sunday, Feb. 8: Figure Skating Team Event (Men’s Free Skate)
• Sunday, Feb. 8: Women’s Alpine Skiing Downhill
• Wednesday, Feb. 11: Figure Skating: Ice Dance (Free Dance)
• Friday, Feb. 13: Figure Skating: Men’s Singles (Free Skate)
• Monday, Feb. 16: Figure Skating: Pairs (Free Skate)
• Monday, Feb. 16: Bobsled: Women’s Monobob Heat 4 (Final)
• Thursday, Feb. 19: Figure Skating: Women’s Singles (Free Skate)
• Thursday, Feb. 19: Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game
• Thursday, Feb. 19: Ski Mountaineering: Men’s & Women’s Sprint Finals
• Saturday, Feb. 21: Ski Mountaineering: Mixed Relay
• Sunday, Feb. 22: Men’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game
• Sunday, Feb. 22: Bobsled: 4-Man Heat 4 (Final)

When do the 2026 Winter Olympics end?

The Winter Games will officially come to an end on Sunday, Feb. 22.

When is the 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony?

The closing ceremony will be held on Feb. 22 in the historic Verona Arena (Arena di Verona), a Roman amphitheater in Verona, Italy.

When are the next Winter Games?

Following the Games in Italy, the next Winter Olympics will take place in 2030 in the French Alps.

When are the next Olympic Games?

Prior to the Winter Games in the French Alps, the Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, California, in 2028.

Next up: 17 Athletes to Watch at the 2026 Winter Olympics—Including Lindsey Vonn’s Historic Return