Winter Paralympics 2026: Milano Cortina

The Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026 will bring the world's best Para athletes to Italy from 6 to 15 March 2026, celebrating elite sport across iconic venues in Northeast Italy.

• Location: Italy; venues across Lombardy and Veneto
• Dates: 6-15 March 2026
• Competition: Winter Paralympic Games
• Events: Para Alpine Skiing, Para Ice Hockey, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing, Para Snowboard, Wheelchair Curling
• Number of Medal Events: 79
• Streaming: Live and free on Eurovision Sport

Winter Paralympics 2026 Dates

The Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics take place from Friday 6 March to Sunday 15 March 2026, following the Olympic Winter Games held earlier in February.

Across ten days of competition, the Games will showcase multiple winter Para sports, combining high-performance racing, tactical team events and technical skill across mountain and indoor venues. Italy becomes a Paralympic host nation once again following Turin 2006, with events split across northern regions known for their winter sports heritage.

Winter Paralympics Timetable

Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony on 6 March 2026 will officially launch the Milano Cortina Paralympics, setting the tone for ten days of competition.

Fans can expect a celebration of Italian culture, music and design, alongside the traditional Parade of Nations and the symbolic lighting of the Paralympic cauldron. The ceremony will highlight the values of the Paralympic Movement, with athletes and organisers sharing the spotlight in a show designed to reflect both innovation and tradition.

Winter Paralympic Host Cities

The Milano Cortina Paralympics are spread across several host locations in northern Italy, each chosen for its facilities and winter sports legacy.

• Milan: Host of Para Ice Hockey, bringing fast-paced action to a major metropolitan arena
• Cortina d'Ampezzo: Home to Para Alpine Skiing, Para Snowboard and Wheelchair Curling, set in the heart of the Dolomites
• Val di Fiemme: Hosts Para Biathlon and Para Cross-Country Skiing, using well-established Nordic World Ski Championship skiing venues

This multi-city approach allows each sport to be staged in purpose-built or adapted venues best suited to high-level winter competition.

Winter Paralympics Mascot

The official Paralympic mascot for Milano Cortina 2026 is Milo, a stoat designed to represent resilience, adaptability and life in alpine environments. His name is inspired by Milano where the games will be held.

Milo symbolises the determination of Paralympic athletes and the close connection between sport and nature in the Italian Alps, appearing throughout the Games at venues, ceremonies and fan events.

Winter Paralympics Sports

Para Alpine Skiing

Para Alpine Skiing is one of the headline sports of the Winter Paralympics, combining speed, technical skill and courage on demanding mountain courses. Athletes compete in events such as downhill, Super-G, giant slalom and slalom, with results adjusted through a classification system to ensure fair competition across different impairments. Races are often decided by fractions of a second, making course precision and tactical line choice crucial.

Para Biathlon

Para Biathlon blends cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, testing both physical endurance and mental focus. Athletes race over set distances and stop at shooting ranges to fire at targets from a prone or standing position, depending on their classification. Each missed target results in a time penalty. For athletes with visual impairments, acoustic guidance systems are used, with sounds increasing in pitch as the rifle aligns with the centre of the target.

Para Cross-Country Skiing

Para Cross-Country Skiing is the endurance backbone of the Winter Paralympics, featuring sprint and distance races across varied terrain. Athletes compete using standing, sitting or visually impaired classifications, with adapted equipment such as sit-skis used where required. Races demand strong pacing, efficient technique and tactical awareness, particularly in mass-start formats where positioning can be decisive in the closing stages.

Para Ice Hockey

Para Ice Hockey is one of the most intense and popular Paralympic winter sports. Mixed gender teams play on sledges instead of skates, athletes propel themselves using two sticks that feature metal picks on one end and blades on the other. The rules closely mirror Olympic ice hockey, with three periods, body checking and rapid transitions of play. The result is a fast, physical game known for its passionate atmosphere and high-scoring moments.

Para Snowboard

Para Snowboard brings explosive speed and head-to-head racing to the Paralympic programme. Athletes compete in snowboard cross and banked slalom events, navigating jumps, turns and variable snow conditions. Races often feature dramatic overtakes and photo finishes. Quick reactions and clean technical execution are essential, particularly in knockout formats.

Wheelchair Curling

Wheelchair Curling is a mixed-gender team sport that emphasises precision, strategy and teamwork. Teams consist of four active players who deliver stones from a stationary wheelchair, either throwing the rock by hand, or using a delivery stick to push.

There is no sweeping; this places greater importance on accurate weight, line and tactical shot selection. Matches are played over a series of ends, with teams aiming to place stones closest to the centre of the house to score points. Strategy builds steadily throughout each game, making wheelchair curling one of the most tactical sports at the Winter Paralympics.

Winter Paralympics Closing Ceremony

The Closing Ceremony on 15 March 2026 will bring the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics to a memorable conclusion, marking the end of ten days of elite competition across Italy.

The ceremony will celebrate the achievements of the athletes, with medal moments, cultural performances and a festive atmosphere reflecting the spirit of the Games. As tradition dictates, the Paralympic flag will be handed over to the next host nation (French Alps 2030), while the extinguishing of the Paralympic flame signals the official close of Milano Cortina 2026; a final moment of reflection, pride and celebration for athletes and fans alike.

Where to Watch Winter Paralympics

You can watch the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026 live and free on Eurovision Sport, including, Para Alpine Skiing, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing, Para Ice Hockey, Para Snowboard and Wheelchair Curling.

Live streams and replays will be available throughout the Games (subject to broadcaster restriction), giving fans full access to Paralympic winter sport across Italy.