In view of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Trentino tells the story of sport through art, culture and its territory. With Combinazioni_caratteri sportivi, museums and cultural institutions come together in a major project featuring exhibitions, events and multidisciplinary experiences dedicated to Olympic values, the human body and the history of sport.
A journey through Trentino’s museums, alpine traditions and innovation, offering new and unexpected perspectives on sport.
Combinazioni_caratteri sportivi is a system-wide initiative conceived and promoted by the Department of Culture of the Autonomous Province of Trento as part of the Cultural Olympiad of Milan Cortina 2026. It is an extensive programme of cultural and artistic events accompanying the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, enhancing Olympic principles through art, cultural heritage and sport.
The result is a rich calendar of major exhibitions in Trentino’s leading museums, portraying sport as a human, social and cultural experience and offering original and innovative interpretations.
Anelli di congiunzione – Le Gallerie di Trento
The Anelli di congiunzione project runs from 2024 to 2026 and consists of three immersive exhibitions hosted in the striking setting of the Gallerie di Trento. Each exhibition, one per year, explores a key aspect of the Olympic Games, weaving together past, present and future.
The journey began in 2024 with Records, focusing on measurement and limits. It continued in 2025 with Performance and will conclude in 2026 with Competitions, centred on the venues and spaces where Olympic competitions take place.
This three-year narrative guides visitors towards the excitement of Milan Cortina 2026, an edition involving Lombardy and Veneto as well as the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano.
At Mart Rovereto: Sport. The Challenges of the Body
Sport has always been a symbol of challenge, determination and overcoming limits. Through athletic activity, the human body reveals both its power and vulnerability, becoming one of the most compelling subjects in the history of art.
The exhibition “Sport. The Challenges of the Body”, on display at Mart Rovereto until 22 March 2026, explores how visual arts have represented the body in sporting practice.
Featuring works by over 150 artists, the exhibition spans approximately two thousand years of history, with a particular focus on modern and contemporary art.
Divided into eight thematic sections, the exhibition is enriched with documents, objects, trophies, photographs, illustrations and advertising materials, offering a comprehensive journey through art and sport. With this project, Mart actively participates in the Cultural Olympiad of Milan Cortina 2026, during which Trentino will also host Olympic competitions from 6 February to 15 March 2026.
Attrezzi. From Work to the Sporting Dream – METS
The METS – Trentino Ethnographic Museum of San Michele presents the multi-event project “Attrezzi: from Work to the Sporting Dream”, open until 31 March 2026.
Sledges, snowshoes, skis and other tools of alpine tradition illustrate the evolution of mountain life: from everyday working tools to leisure objects, and eventually to specialised sporting equipment.
The exhibition highlights an original selection of artefacts, accompanied by an important photographic and film heritage, essential for understanding Trentino’s alpine and sporting culture.
Winter in Art – Castello del Buonconsiglio
Until 15 March 2026, the Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trento hosts the exhibition “Winter in Art. Landscapes, Allegories and Everyday Life”.
A journey through time exploring how winter has been depicted by artists: from snow-covered landscapes to scenes of popular life, from aristocratic pastimes to Renaissance and Baroque allegories. A poetic and evocative narrative intertwining art, history and imagination, captivating visitors of all ages.
Photography, Sport and Science: from Palazzo delle Albere to MUSE, Trento
At Palazzo delle Albere, an exhibition dedicated to movement, athletic gesture and the emotions of sport takes shape, tracing the history of Trentino sports photography. The exhibition is accompanied by a striking video mapping on the sails of MUSE, telling the story of Trentino’s landscapes and sporting achievements, from the 19th century origins to contemporary Olympic and Paralympic sports. Open until 15 March 2026.
Palestra Olimpica – MUSE
From 31 January to 28 June 2026, MUSE – Museum of Science in Trento hosts “Palestra Olimpica. The Science that Drives Sport”, an interactive exhibition revealing what lies behind the preparation of an Olympic athlete. From physiology to neuroscience, biomechanics to mental training, the exhibition offers a scientific and multidisciplinary perspective on athletic performance, making knowledge engaging and accessible for adults, families and young visitors.
