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Gearing Up

Cartoon of a white stoat holding a flag with the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics logo, surrounded by three smaller green-clad mascots.
One of this year’s mascots is Tina (with flag). She’s a stoat named for one of the host cities: Cortina, Italy. COURTESY OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES/PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES MILANO CORTINA 2026 PRESS KIT

The Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games take place every four years. In 2026, they will be held in Italy. Here are some things to know.

Snow-covered mountains rise above the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, with a church steeple in the foreground and ski slopes winding down the hills.
COURTESY OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES/PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES MILANO CORTINA 2026 PRESS KIT

What are the Winter Olympics and Paralympics?

The Winter Olympics is a competition for athletes from all over the world. Its events take place on snow or ice. The Winter Paralympics is the same, but for athletes with disabilities.

Who is competing?

More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries are expected to compete in the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

What kinds of events will there be?

There are 16 sports in the Olympics and six in the Paralympics. Skiing, snowboarding, and skating are some. There are also sliding sports. These are bobsledding, skeleton, and luge.

When can I watch?

The Olympic Games run from February 6 to February 22. The Paralympic Games go from March 6 to March 15.