With 100 days to go, are the Milano-Cortina 2026 winter Olympics truly ready to deliver?

As of Wednesday, October 29, the clock is officially ticking: only 100 days remain until the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, set to begin on February 6, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. 
This milestone sets the stage for what promises to be a remarkable, albeit logistically ambitious, Winter Games for Italy and the world.

Where the preparations stand

Organisers say that despite a complex setup of venues—many spread across mountainous terrain and urban hubs—they are now nearing the finish line. “Our complex organisational model is falling into place,” said Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milano-Cortina 2026 organising committee. 
Nevertheless, the scale of the challenge remains enormous. With a budget around €3.5 billion ($4.7 billion) set aside for nearly 100 infrastructure projects — 47 of them dedicated directly to the Games — delays and tight scheduling remain a concern. According to infrastructure company Simico, up to one in four projects may not finish on time.

For example, while the main competition venues are expected to be ready, cosmetic work is still ongoing. In Cortina the renovations of the ski jumping stadium (a venue from the 1956 Games) will technically be completed only the summer following the Games. A new ice-hockey arena in Milan is under pressure: the test event has already been postponed, and concerns linger about whether everything will be fully operational on time.

Security, sustainability & public sentiment

Security for the Games has been declared a top priority by the Italian government. An operating budget of about €1.7 billion has been announced — including a record mobilisation of nearly 11,000 police and military personnel. The Air Force will stand on 24/7 alert for the duration of the Games.
On the sustainability front, organisers emphasise that 85 % of venues are already in place or built with legacy in mind. For instance the Milan Olympic Village at Scalo Romano is planned for post-Games conversion into affordable and student housing. 
Yet environmental concerns persist, particularly in Alpine venues where ski-lifts, artificial snow production and vegetation clearance (including trees aged 500–600 years cut for a bobsleigh track) have triggered criticism.

Public sentiment is cautiously optimistic. A recent poll showed 62 % of Italians proud to host the event, and around 59 % seeing it as a boost to national unity.

The athlete & fan experience

With athletes from over 90 countries expected to compete — more than 3,500 participants contesting roughly 195 medals across 16 disciplines — the event will be sprawling.
But the geography also poses unique challenges. Venues will stretch across multiple mountain clusters and cities. For fans and athletes alike, travel logistics will be critical. Some may need to travel several hours between events. One U.S. athlete remarked that unlike previous Games, competitors in 2026 will feel more of the “normal” Olympic experience thanks to fan presence returning in full.

Legacy and importance

These Games represent more than competition. For Milan, it’s a chance to reignite its global prominence after the years of the pandemic; for Cortina, it’s a return to the Olympic fold since 1956. For the wider Olympic Movement, it’s an experiment in distributed hosting across regions, new economic models, and environmental ambition.

With just 100 days left, the countdown is real. Fans, athletes and nations will be watching not just for medals — but for how this complex, modern Winter Games delivers on its many promises.

FAQs

Q1. When do the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics start and end?
The Games open on February 6, 2026 and run through February 22.

Q2. What’s the significance of the “100 days” mark?
It signals the transition into the final phase of preparation and public build-up ahead of the Games, with venues, logistics and promotions in full swing.

Q3. How many athletes and events will there be?
More than 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries will compete for about 195 medals across 16 Olympic disciplines.

Q4. Are all the venues ready?
Not entirely. Most major competition venues are on track, but some infrastructure — e.g., Milan’s ice-hockey arena and Cortina’s ski stadium — face tight deadlines and some cosmetic work remains.

Q5. Will there be issues for spectators?
Possibly. The geographically spread-out nature of the Games — from urban Milan to remote Alpine zones — means travel and transport could be complex for visitors.