© caitgreer_pixabay
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics took place from 6 to 15 March 2026, turning Italy into the global stage for the world's most prestigious winter para sports event. Competitions were held in Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Tesero (Val di Fiemme), bringing together around 600 athletes from more than 55 countries.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games marked a historic milestone for Italian sport. Italy fielded its largest-ever Paralympic winter team, with 42 athletes supported by 3 guides, competing across the six para sports included in the Games.
At a glance
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics were held between Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Tesero from 6 to 15 March 2026. The programme featured six sports: Wheelchair Curling, Para Alpine Skiing, Para Snowboard, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing and Para Ice Hockey, with approximately 600 athletes representing more than 55 nations.
Sports at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics
The Paralympic competitions took place across three main venues: Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Tesero in Val di Fiemme. Each discipline showcased the talent, determination and resilience of para athletes from around the world.
Wheelchair Curling in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Wheelchair Curling is a Paralympic sport played in wheelchairs without the use of sweepers, the players who brush the ice in traditional curling. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, it was the first sport to begin competition, with events taking place from 4 to 15 March at the Cortina Ice Stadium.
Two tournaments were contested:
- Mixed Team Tournament featuring 10 nations
- Mixed Doubles Tournament with 8 competing pairs
During each end, athletes delivered two stones, large polished granite rocks, aiming to place them as close as possible to the centre of the target. Accuracy, tactical awareness and consistency proved essential throughout the competition.
Athletes were allowed to deliver the stone either by hand or with the assistance of an extender, a delivery stick designed to help control both direction and force.
Para Alpine Skiing on the Olympia delle Tofane
Para Alpine Skiing took place from 7 to 14 March on the iconic Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of the most renowned ski destinations in the Dolomites.
The competition programme included five disciplines:
- Downhill
- Super-G
- Giant Slalom
- Slalom
- Alpine Combined
Athletes competed in three sport classes:
- Sitting, using specially designed sit-skis
- Standing, with or without prosthetic limbs
- Vision Impaired, skiing with the support of a guide who led them throughout the course
Thanks to the demanding courses and high speeds reached by the competitors, Para Alpine Skiing once again proved to be one of the most spectacular and widely followed events of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.
Para Snowboard
Para Snowboard took centre stage at the Cortina Para Snowboard Park from 10 to 15 March, featuring a total of eight medal events.
The competitions included two disciplines:
- Banked Slalom
- Snowboard Cross
Athletes competed in the Upper Limb (UL) category for competitors with upper-limb impairments and the Lower Limb (LL1 and LL2) categories for athletes with lower-limb impairments who compete using prosthetic limbs or other assistive devices.
Competitions in Tesero, Val di Fiemme
The Val di Fiemme, and particularly the town of Tesero, hosted two of the most exciting sports of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics: Para Biathlon and Para Cross-Country Skiing.
These world-class venues welcomed elite para athletes from across the globe, highlighting both athletic excellence and the spectacular mountain scenery of the Dolomites.
Para Biathlon
Para Biathlon took place from 8 to 14 March at the Tesero Cross-Country Ski Stadium.
The sport combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, testing both endurance and shooting accuracy.
The programme featured three events:
- Sprint
- Individual
- Pursuit
Competitions were held in three sport classes:
- Standing
- Sitting
- Vision Impaired
For athletes with visual impairments, shooting was carried out using an acoustic aiming system, where audio signals become progressively higher in pitch as the rifle aligns with the centre of the target.
Para Cross-Country Skiing
Para Cross-Country Skiing was also held in Tesero and featured sprint races, individual distance events and relay competitions.
Athletes competed in the following sport classes:
- Standing
- Sitting
- Vision Impaired
In the Vision Impaired category, athletes were accompanied throughout the course by trained guides, who provided constant communication to ensure both safety and peak performance.
As one of the oldest and most demanding Paralympic winter sports, Para Cross-Country Skiing showcased remarkable endurance, technique and determination throughout the Games.
Para Ice Hockey in Milan
Para Ice Hockey was held at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, delivering some of the most thrilling moments of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.
One of the fastest and most physical team sports at the Paralympic Games, Para Ice Hockey is played on specially designed sledges, allowing athletes with lower-limb impairments to compete at the highest level. Unlike many other sports, teams may include both male and female players competing together.
The tournament featured:
- Group stage
- Semi-finals
- Medal matches
Each game consisted of three 15-minute periods. Players used two sticks: one fitted with metal picks for propulsion across the ice and the other for controlling, passing and shooting the puck.
Closing Ceremony in Cortina d'Ampezzo
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics came to a close on 15 March 2026 with the Closing Ceremony in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The final celebration honoured the athletes, volunteers and delegations from around the world, bringing together ten unforgettable days of competition, emotion and outstanding sporting achievements.
Through music, performances and official ceremonies, Cortina bid farewell to the Games while celebrating the values of inclusion, determination and equal opportunity, reaffirming the power of sport to inspire people and unite communities across cultures.
The Legacy of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics will be remembered as one of the most significant sporting events ever hosted in Italy. Beyond the medals and record-breaking performances, the Games strengthened the visibility of para sports while promoting inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunities on an international scale.
The host venues of Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Tesero, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomed thousands of spectators and hundreds of athletes, reinforcing Italy's reputation as a leading destination for world-class winter sports events.
The legacy of Milano Cortina 2026 extends far beyond the competition itself. The Games accelerated investments in accessible infrastructure, increased awareness of Paralympic sport and demonstrated how major international events can create lasting social, cultural and economic benefits for local communities.
Today, Milano Cortina 2026 stands as a benchmark for future Winter Paralympic Games, leaving behind a legacy of excellence, innovation and inclusion that will continue to inspire athletes, visitors and future generations.
