With the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics taking place just across the border, this year’s Winter Games feel unusually close for people living in Switzerland. Whether you plan to travel to events in Italy, follow the torch relay, or watch from home or public venues, there are many ways to experience the Olympics first-hand.
Historic Games close to home
The 2026 Winter Olympics mark a first: they are hosted by two cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with competitions spread across five locations in northern Italy.
The Olympic torch began its symbolic journey in Olympia in late November and has been travelling through Italy and will reach San Siro Stadium on 6 February 2026, where the Opening Ceremony officially launches the Games.
As always, the torch relay passes through communities across the host country, giving spectators the chance to see the flame up close and, for selected participants, even carry it — an important tradition designed to connect the Games with everyday people.
Travelling to events near the Swiss border
For Swiss residents, the most accessible Olympic competitions will take place in Valtellina, a valley in Lombardy that borders Switzerland. Long known for winter sports, thermal spas, local cuisine and Alpine history, Valtellina is also one of the key Olympic clusters.
The valley lies close to the Canton of Graubunden, with access via the Maloja Pass, Val Bregaglia and the Splügen Pass — making it a realistic day trip or short break for many.
Olympic events in Valtellina include:
- Stelvio Ski Centre (Bormio) – Men’s Alpine Skiing and Ski Mountaineering
- Livigno Snow Park (Mottolino) – Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing
- Livigno Snow Park (Sitas–Tagliede) – Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing
- Carosello 3000 (Livigno) – Aerials and Moguls
Notably, Ski Mountaineering will make its Olympic debut at these Games.
Winter Olympic schedule and results
Details of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, including schedule and results, are available via the official website.
Tickets: What’s still available?
Tickets for Milano–Cortina 2026 are sold via the official Olympic ticketing platform, the only authorised vendor, and must be downloaded through the official app using the same login details as your purchase. Purchase tickets through third parties at your own risk!
While a large proportion of tickets were already sold by late 2025, new batches are released weekly, typically on Wednesdays at 16:00 CET.
Good to know:
- Tickets for the Opening Ceremony are still available close to the event date
- Fans aged 26 and under can access special offers (such as two-for-one deals)
- Prices vary widely depending on seating and event category, from standard seats to premium hospitality packages
- Price Range: According to official ticketing details, prices vary significantly depending on seat location:
- Category D: €260
- Category C: €700
- Category B: €1,400
- Category A: €2,026
- VIP/hospitality packages start from ~€3,250 and up.
If you are set on a particular event, it’s worth checking regularly — availability can change week by week.
Watching from Switzerland: TV, radio and streaming
If travelling isn’t an option, Switzerland offers excellent broadcast coverage.
Swiss coverage
- SRF will provide extensive live TV coverage, mainly on SRF zwei, with daily broadcasts from morning to late evening
- Radio SRF offers live commentary and updates
- Online streaming and highlights are available via SRF Sport on TV, web, app and social media
International free-to-air options
- BBC (BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer) – for viewing in English
- Where to watch the Olympics – world-wide list
Public viewing & Olympic atmosphere
For a more social Olympic experience, several locations offer public screenings and themed events.
Highlights include:
- The Olympic Museum, Lausanne – Hosting special ‘Celebration Weekends’ during the Games, with big-screen broadcasts, exhibitions and cultural events, largely free of charge
- House of Switzerland Italia 2026 – Fan hubs in Milan, Cortina and Bormio with free entry, live screenings and athlete appearances
- Historic winter sports sites such as Olympia Bob Run St. Moritz–Celerina, linking today’s Games with Switzerland’s Olympic past
- At the time of writing, no official ‘big screen’ fan zones have been announced in Luzern. Should any be confirmed, we will update this section accordingly. In the meantime, main city squares and local sports bars are likely places to watch events.
Swiss athletes to watch
Switzerland will field around 175 athletes, competing in almost every discipline. Several Olympic champions and medal contenders return from Beijing 2022, alongside new names hoping to make their mark.
Among the standout figures are alpine and freestyle specialists, a strong ski-cross contingent, and a competitive cross-country team. Switzerland will also be represented in ski jumping, snowboarding, bobsleigh, speed skating, curling and ice hockey including freestyle skiing champions.
Medal contenders:
- Marco Odermatt – Alpine Skiing – World Cup leader and defending Olympic champion, favourite in downhill, super-G and giant slalom
- Corinne Suter – Alpine Skiing – 2022 Olympic downhill champion
- Ryan Regez – Ski Cross – Olympic champion in ski cross from Beijing
- Mathilde Gremaud – Freestyle Skiing – Multi-medal medalist in slopestyle and big air and set to make her third Olympic appearance
- Sarah Hoefflin – Freestyle Skiing – Champion in slopestyle and making her third Olympic appearance
- Wendy Holdener – Alpine Skiing – Experienced swiss racer with multiple Olympic medals
- Alex Fiva – Ski Cross – Seasoned performer in ski cross with world-class racing experience
- Salomé Kora – Bobsleigh – Set to make history, joining the small group of athletes to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The three-time athletics Olympian — Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 — will make her Winter Games debut in bobsleigh at Milano Cortina 2026.
Athletes from Canton Luzern
Canton Luzern will be strongly represented at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with eight athletes qualifying to compete across a wide range of disciplines. All have been supported through the Olympiateam Kanton Luzern program as they prepared for the biggest sporting event of the season.
When the Opening Ceremony takes place on 6 February 2026 at San Siro Stadium in Milan, these Luzern-based athletes will join approximately 3,000 competitors from around the world:
- Ariane Burri (Eschenbach) – Snowboard Big Air & Slopestyle
- Gregor Deschwanden (Horw) – Ski Jumping
- Nadine Fähndrich (Horw / Knutwil / Schwarzenberg) – Cross-country Skiing
- Andreas Haas (Menznau / Willisau) – Bobsleigh
- Kaitlyn McGregor (Weggis) – Speed Skating
- Lara Stalder (Luzern) – Ice Hockey
- Livio Wenger (Schenkon) – Speed Skating
- Selina Witschonke (Sempach) – Curling
Their participation highlights the depth and diversity of Swiss winter sports talent. The canton and its municipalities have formally wished all eight Olympians success as they represent Switzerland on the Olympic stage.
Key dates at a glance
- Olympic Games: 6 – 22 February 2026
- Paralympic Games: 6 – 15 March 2026
- Closest venues to Switzerland: Valtellina (Bormio & Livigno)
- Free public access: Olympic Museum Lausanne and official fan zones
Header image: Olympic and Paralympic Symbols in Cortina d’Ampezzo from Pexels: David Dibert
