From 6 to 15 March 2026, the international spotlight will turn to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, a major sporting event set to bring athletes from around the world to Italy while highlighting the values of inclusion and participation. Six Winter Paralympic disciplines will be contested - from para alpine skiing to wheelchair curling - for a total of 79 events taking place across Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige. The opening ceremony will be held in the monumental setting of the Verona Arena, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for Cortina d’Ampezzo, a historic capital of winter sports. Ahead of the Games, the Paralympic flame relay will run from 24 February to 6 March: lit symbolically in the United Kingdom, the torch will travel through several Italian cities before arriving in Verona, symbolically connecting territories and communities. Milan will play a central role by hosting the para ice hockey competitions at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, as well as the Paralympic Village. This is where much of the Games’ daily life will unfold, combining high-intensity competition with moments of encounter and exchange. The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics promise to be a widespread, accessible event, capable of engaging a broad audience both inside and outside the stadiums.
