There’s a special atmosphere in Milan these days: the city is transforming to welcome Milano-Cortina 2026! Soon, people from all over the world will arrive to experience the excitement of the Winter Olympic Games up close. Yet this isn’t new for Italy, our country has already hosted the Olympic flame three times, leaving an unforgettable mark on sports history.
A little bit of history
It all begins in 1956, when the Dolomites of Cortina d’Ampezzo become the center of the sporting world. That edition was full of historic “firsts”: it was the first Winter Olympics ever broadcast on television, and the Olympic Oath was spoken for the first time by a woman, Giuliana Minuzzo. Cortina brought Italy onto the global stage and marked the start of our Olympic journey.
Learn more about our school's history
Just four years later came the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics, where sport and history blended seamlessly. Athletes raced past the Colosseum, competed at the Foro Italico and the Stadio Olimpico, and performed against the iconic backdrop of the Eternal City.
In 2006, the Olympic flame returned to Italy once more. The mascots Neve and Gliz became beloved symbols, and many structures built for the Games, like the Palavela and the Oval Lingotto, remain active cultural and sports venues today. Turin transformed into a modern, vibrant stage with renovated venues and a strong focus on sustainability.
The 2026 Games
And now Italy is preparing to write the third chapter of its Winter Olympic history. From 6 to 22 February 2026, Milan and the Dolomites will host the XXV Winter Olympic Games.
Milano-Cortina 2026 will be the first “distributed” Olympics, shared between a dynamic, international city and the breathtaking Dolomite mountains. The opening ceremony will take place at the historic San Siro Stadium, and the closing ceremony at the Arena of Verona, a 2,000-year-old amphitheater.
Milano-Cortina 2026 embraces the motto “Duality, Together”, celebrating the meeting of opposites, tradition and innovation, mountains and city, to create a modern, inclusive, and unforgettable Olympic Games.
Italy is ready to welcome the world, and you are invited to be part of it - discover our Italian language school!
Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Milan
Thanks to its prestigious universities and academies, Milan is the elected place of education for numerous Italian and international students.
Latest posts by Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Milan (see all)
- Experiencing Milan During the Olympics - January 15, 2026
- The History of the Olympic Games in Italy - December 12, 2025
- Milan on a Plate: Discovering the City Through Food - November 21, 2025
