2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina: Your essential guide to the quest for gold

Preparations are in full swing, and the excitement is building: in just a few days, the moment will finally arrive. From March 6 to 15, 2026, Italy will become the epicentre of Paralympic winter sports. The XIV Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo promise not only thrilling competitions but also a spectacular backdrop that uniquely blends history and modernity. If you're wondering what's in store at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, here's your ultimate 2026 Winter Paralympics guide.

Five Venues, One Goal: The Settings for the Games

For the first time, two cities officially share the hosting duties, but the competitions will actually be spread across five different locations—each with its own distinct character. The journey begins with the Opening Ceremony in a truly historic setting: the Arena in Verona, a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre, where athletes will receive a grand welcome. A place where gladiators once fought will become the stage for peaceful competition for Paralympic medals.

Athletes will then compete for medals across various venues:

• Milan (Santa Giulia Arena): Inside this brand-new hall, holding up to 14,000 spectators, the action heats up with Para ice hockey. Hard-hitting, fast, and emotional.
• Cortina d'Ampezzo (Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio): Historic ground for the wheelchair curlers. The arena was built for the 1956 Olympics and has now been modernized for the Paralympics. This is also where the Closing Ceremony will take place.
• Cortina d'Ampezzo (Parasnowboard Park & Tofane): Right below the distinctive Tofane massif lie the slopes for alpine skiers and snowboarders. The famous "Olimpia delle Tofane" downhill course stretches 2,560 metres with a demanding 750-metre vertical drop—a true challenge.
• Tesero (Val di Fiemme): About 100 kilometres from Cortina, in the heart of the Fiemme Valley, cross-country skiers and biathletes will find their terrain. Here, endurance champions will be crowned, following in the tracks of legends.

The Trophies: Medals with Depth

What would the battle for the podium be without those coveted prizes? The Milan-Cortina medals are small works of art. They measure 8 cm in diameter and are 1 cm thick. A total of 1,146 have been minted, with 411 (137 of each colour) going to Paralympians. Visually, they closely resemble their Olympic counterparts, with one key difference: the front features not the Olympic Rings but the Agitos, the symbol of the Paralympic movement. And on the back, in a powerful nod to inclusion, the name of the discipline is also inscribed in braille.

Spotlight on White and Red: Poland's Gold Mission

For the Polish delegation, these Games hold special significance. It's a mission to end a 20-year dry spell. The last time there was gold-medal reason to celebrate for Poland at the Winter Paralympics was in 2006 in Turin, where Katarzyna Rogowiec triumphed twice in cross-country skiing (5 km freestyle and 15 km classical). Since then, the team has had to settle for silver and bronze, with the last medallist being Igor Sikorski, who won bronze in the giant slalom in PyeongChang in 2018.

This year, the goal is to change that. The Polish team for these 2026 Winter Paralympics is all but set. Nine athletes (plus six guides) will carry the white and red colours. There was a particularly happy ending for Paweł Gil. The parabiathlete had met the qualification standard but, due to quota distribution, initially wasn't going to make the cut. Thanks to a wildcard, a stroke of luck, he can now travel to Italy with his guide, Radosław Koszyk. Hopes are pinned on experienced competitors like Piotr Garbowski (cross-country) and the strong biathlete Błażej Bieńko, who finished fourth in the World Cup this winter. They are all united by the dream of connecting with that golden era of Rogowiec.

The stage is set: spectacular arenas, precious medals, and the unyielding determination of athletes from around the world to cap their life's achievements with hardware. It's time to tune in on TV or follow the buzz on social media—the 2026 Winter Paralympics are sure to captivate us all. If you want to know how to experience the 2026 Winter Paralympics, just tune in and soak up the pure excitement.