The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games officially open on March 6 in the Arena di Verona, the two-thousand-year-old Roman amphitheater that has been extensively renovated to improve accessibility. The Milano Cortina 2026 edition marks the 50th anniversary of the first Winter Paralympics, held in 1976 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, and features a record 665 athletes competing in 79 medal events across six sports through March 15. (Source: International Paralympic Committee)
A Historic Setting
The decision to stage the Opening Ceremony in Verona adds cultural resonance. The Arena, built in the first century AD and renowned as an opera venue, underwent extensive accessibility improvements that organizers describe as a lasting legacy. The Closing Ceremony will take place at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, originally built for the 1956 Winter Olympics. Competition actually began before the ceremony, with mixed doubles wheelchair curling, making its Paralympic debut, starting March 4 at Cortina. (Source: Olympics.com)
The Paralympic torch relay traveled 2,000 kilometers across Italy with 501 torchbearers, beginning at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the United Kingdom, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. Giorgio Minisini and Arianna Sacripante, both synchronized swimmers and symbols of inclusion through sport, lit the Paralympic Cauldron in Milan’s Piazza Duomo before the flame continued to Verona. (Source: Olympics.com)
Six Sports, Record Numbers
Athletes compete in Para alpine skiing at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, where they race at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour. Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing take place in Tesero’s cross-country stadium in Val di Fiemme. The newly built Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, a 14,000-seat venue constructed for the Games, hosts Para ice hockey with eight nations competing. Para snowboard runs at the Cortina Para Snowboard Park amid the stunning Dolomites. (Source: International Paralympic Committee)
The first medals are awarded March 7 in Para alpine skiing women’s downhill and Para biathlon women’s sprint sitting. The introduction of mixed doubles wheelchair curling expands the sport’s Paralympic presence. Wheelchair curling also features the traditional mixed team format at Cortina. About 89 percent of all tickets are priced under 35 euros, with children’s seats starting at 10 euros, reflecting the organizers’ commitment to broad accessibility. (Source: Olympics.com; International Paralympic Committee)
Athletes to Watch
American Oksana Masters enters as the most decorated Team USA Winter Paralympian, carrying 14 Winter Paralympic medals and five Summer medals, including seven medals in seven events at Beijing 2022. Austrian Para alpine skier Markus Salcher, at his fifth Paralympics, has called this edition his last dance as he pursues his eighth medal. The U.S. Para ice hockey team, led by five-time gold medalist Declan Farmer, enters as the dominant force. Goalie Jen Lee brings a military background and inspiring personal journey. Sweden’s Ronny Persson competes at his fifth Paralympics after a career change from alpine skiing to curling. (Source: Team USA; International Paralympic Committee)
The Mascot and the Legacy
Paralympic mascot Milo, a brown stoat born without a leg who learned to use his tail as a replacement, represents ingenuity, willpower, and creativity. Selected through public vote, Milo joins Olympic mascot Tina as symbols of the Milano Cortina Games. The medals, crafted with Italian artistry, feature Braille on the front alongside the event logo. (Source: Wikipedia)
Ross Stevens, founder of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, gifted $100 million to support Team USA athletes ahead of the Games, one of the largest individual donations to Paralympic sport. The IPC has described Milano Cortina as destined to be the best edition ever in terms of sport and among the most scenic, with competition venues set against Alpine backdrops. For the 665 athletes who have dedicated their lives to reaching this stage, the next 10 days represent the culmination of years of preparation and the chance to inspire a global audience of hundreds of millions. (Source: Team USA; International Paralympic Committee)
Competition Preview
Para ice hockey features eight nations in a round-robin tournament building toward the gold medal game on March 15. The United States, led by captain Declan Farmer with five Paralympic gold medals, faces strong competition from Canada, China, and host Italy. The sport, played on sleds with two short sticks for propulsion and puck handling, delivers some of the fastest and most physical action at the Winter Paralympics. The newly constructed Milano Santa Giulia Arena provides a world-class venue that will be converted to a multi-use entertainment center after the Games, ensuring lasting community benefit.
Para alpine skiing showcases athletes navigating courses at extraordinary speeds despite visual impairments, limb differences, or spinal cord injuries. Three classification categories, visually impaired, standing, and sitting, ensure fair competition across the range of disabilities. The Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in the dramatic Dolomite mountains provides one of the most visually stunning competition backdrops in Paralympic history. Para cross-country skiing and biathlon in the Tesero valley offer endurance tests across snow-covered landscapes, while Para snowboard’s banked slalom and snowboard cross events bring explosive short-format racing. The combination of athletic excellence and the breathtaking Italian settings positions Milano Cortina 2026 to significantly expand the global audience for Paralympic winter sport.
