Paralympic Winter Games 2026: What to know
Mar 10th 2026
Key facts on Milano Cortina 2026: the Paralympic Winter Games run March 6 to 15 across three Italian venues with about 665 athletes in six sports, featuring one new medal event and a major controversy after the IPC reinstated Russia and Belarus.
- Dates and venues: the Games run March 6 to 15 across Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme in northern Italy.
- Scale: about 665 athletes from 56 nations will compete in 79 medal events across six sports.
- New event: wheelchair curling mixed doubles debuts as a medal event for the first time.
- History: this is the 14th Paralympic Winter Games and marks the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics.
- Russia and Belarus: the IPC lifted its ban so athletes from both countries may compete under their own flags, a decision that prompted several countries to boycott the opening ceremony.
- Debuts: El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Portugal are competing at the Winter Paralympics for the first time.
- Stars and events to watch: Oksana Masters and Jesper Pedersen are top medal favourites, and Para-ice hockey remains a marquee mixed-team event.
- Security and travel impact: geopolitical tensions, including the US Israel war with Iran, have complicated travel and forced Iran's only qualified athlete to withdraw.