Overview of Milan–Cortina 2026 so far
The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, marking the first time two cities officially share hosting duties. As a result, events take place across several clusters, combining big-city arenas in Milan with classic alpine venues in the Dolomites.
The Games run from February 6 to 22, with thousands of athletes competing in skiing, skating, hockey, sliding sports, and new disciplines. Meanwhile, fans are filling arenas and mountain venues as the medal table tightens heading into the final days.
Men’s ice hockey at Milan–Cortina 2026
At this stage, the tournament has reached the semifinals, with Canada, the United States, Slovakia, and Finland forming the final four. Team USA advanced after an overtime win against Sweden, while Canada, Slovakia, and Finland also secured dramatic victories in their quarterfinal matchups. Consequently, power rankings slightly favor Canada and the U.S., but Slovakia and Finland remain dangerous opponents with strong goaltending and disciplined defense.
The gold-medal game will take place on the final weekend of the Games, and all four remaining teams still have a realistic path to the podium. With NHL talent spread across the semifinal lineups, the men’s hockey tournament has become one of the most closely watched events in Milan–Cortina.
Medal table and standout nations
As of writing this, Norway leads the overall medal count with a deep haul across cross-country skiing, biathlon, and other snow events. Meanwhile, Italy and the United States are close behind, boosted by home-ice and home-snow success for Italy and a strong all-around program for Team USA.
Here is the current top of the medal table:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 16 | 8 | 10 | 34 |
| 2 | United States | 9 | 12 | 6 | 27 |
| 3 | Italy | 9 | 5 | 12 | 26 |
| 4 | Japan | 5 | 7 | 12 | 24 |
| 5 | Germany | 5 | 8 | 8 | 21 |
| 6 | France | 6 | 8 | 5 | 19 |
| 7 | Austria | 5 | 8 | 5 | 18 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 6 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| 9 | Sweden | 6 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
| 10 | Canada | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 |
| 11 | Switzerland | 6 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| 12 | China | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 13 | South Korea | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 14 | Great Britain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Czech Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 | Slovenia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 17 | Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 18 | Finland | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 19 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | Poland | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 22 | New Zealand | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Overall, Norway’s depth in endurance and snow events continues to drive its dominance, while Italy’s home advantage shows in alpine skiing and sliding sports. At the same time, the United States remains strong across ice events such as figure skating, snowboarding, and hockey, while Japan, Germany, and France add balance in both ice and snow disciplines.
Big moments and star performances
American athletes have produced several headline moments in Milan–Cortina. For example, figure skater Alysa Liu became the first U.S. woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since 2002, and the U.S. women’s hockey team claimed gold in a dramatic final. In addition, stars in alpine skiing, snowboarding, and speed skating continue to chase records, with multiple Olympic champions attempting to add to their medal collections.
New Olympic events such as ski mountaineering have opened the door for different nations and athletes to reach the podium. Consequently, these additions expand the range of sports on display and reflect the evolving nature of winter competition.
New events, venues, and what’s next
Milan–Cortina 2026, the first co-hosted Winter Games, spreads events across urban arenas and historic alpine venues to reduce costs and reuse existing infrastructure. Therefore, organizers hope this approach will become a model for future Olympics by balancing spectacle with sustainability.
With only a few days left, key medals remain up for grabs in men’s and women’s hockey, alpine skiing, speed skating, and team events. Finally, the closing ceremony at Verona Arena will cap a Games defined by shared hosting, historic venues, and a tight medal race among traditional winter powers and emerging contenders.