There’s something uniquely wonderful about the Winter Olympics.
Part of it is the spectacle of athletes hurtling downhill at motorway speeds, endlessly airborne snowboarders and wildly spinning skaters. But there’s also that cosy mid‑winter charm – the feeling of settling in with a hot drink, wrapped in a blanket and watching the world’s best perform their extraordinary feats.
This year’s Games run from February 6th to 22nd, spread across the sweeping landscapes of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, as well as several Alpine venues including Bormio, Livigno, Val di Fiemme and Antholz.
Around 2,900 athletes are set to compete and while a few organisational hiccups have peppered the run‑up – a slow‑moving arena project here, an oversized ice track there – the programme itself is packed with exciting updates.
This year introduces ski mountaineering as a brand‑new Olympic sport, alongside new events in established disciplines such as women’s large‑hill ski jumping, mixed skeleton and women’s doubles luge.Â
And, because no Winter Olympics would be complete without a quirky scandal, keep an eye on how last year’s notorious “crotch‑tampering” ski‑jumping incident will play out during the games.
At the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, coaches from the Norwegian men's team were caught inserting illegal stitching into their competitors’ suits to stiffen the crotch area for better aerodynamics.
The resulting “Penisgate” memes were almost as dramatic as the jumps themselves.
Despite claiming they had no idea what was going on, athletes Johann André Forfang and Marius Lindvik accepted three-month bans but remain eligible for the Winter Olympics.
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How can I watch the Winter Games?
If you’re in Germany, watching the Games couldn’t be easier. Public broadcasters ARD and ZDF will be providing extensive, free‑to‑air coverage throughout the Games.
Expect more than 100 hours of live TV and hundreds of hours of streaming through ARD Mediathek and ZDFmediathek, starting from the very early hours each morning.
If you prefer full, uninterrupted coverage, Eurosport and discovery+ offer paid alternatives, including every event, every session and plenty of replays for night owls or those with tricky work schedules.
But for the true winter‑sport romantics, here’s a thought: northern Italy is just around the corner. Milan is about a seven‑hour drive from Munich, and the Alpine venues in Lombardy and Veneto are easily reachable by train from southern Germany.
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Whether you fancy standing at the base of a ski‑jumping hill as competitors soar overhead or soaking in the atmosphere at a curling match (more gripping than you’d think), it’s a rare opportunity to witness the Olympics practically on your doorstep.
And yes – tickets are still reportedly available for many events, especially those outside the marquee sports.
When are the main events taking place?
To avoid missing your favourites, here’s a whistle‑stop guide to the headline events:
Figure Skating: The main figure skating medal events are on February 13th (Men’s single skating), 16th (Pair skating) and 19th (Women’s single skating). Expect Japan’s Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto to be major contenders in the pairs, with teams from the US also vying for the podium.
Alpine Skiing medal events: Watch for Swiss sensation Marco Odermatt, American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, and Italy’s own Sofia Goggia.
- Men’s downhill: February 7th
- Women’s downhill: February 8th
- Women’s super‑G: February 12th
- Men’s slalom: February 16th
- Women’s slalom: February 18th
Biathlon medal events: Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bø remains the man to beat, while Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi will have passionate home support.
- Mixed relay: February 8th
- Men’s individual: February 10th
- Women’s individual: February 11th
- Relays: February 17th and 18th
- Mass starts: February 20th and 21st
Ice Hockey: The men’s and women’s tournaments begin early, with semi‑finals around 19 February and the men’s medals decided on February 21st and 22nd. Men’s favourites include Canada and Sweden, with the USA and Czechia leading on the women’s side.
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Snowboard Halfpipe: Expect huge amplitude from Australia’s Scotty James and stylish innovation from the USA’s Maddie Mastro.
- Women’s final: February 12th
- Men’s final: February 13th
Ski Jumping medal events: The large‑hill and normal‑hill events run on February 9th and 13th to 17th with Norway hoping for redemption after last year’s crotch tampering scandal – though Austria and Germany will be in the mix.
How is Germany expected to perform?
Germany has long been a winter‑sports juggernaut and 2026 should be no exception. The country historically dominates the sliding events, where tiny fractions of a second – and serious engineering prowess – can make all the difference.
Overall, bookmakers place Germany in the top five for expected medal count — meaning fans can realistically hope for dozens of podium appearances and several glittering golds.
Top prospects include:
Luge: Germany’s holy trinity of Felix Loch, Max Langenhan and Julia Taubitz are all strong medal favourites. With Germany’s staggering tally of 86 Olympic luge medals, the Cortina track is practically home turf.
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Bobsleigh: Legendary pilot Francesco Friedrich aims to add a fifth and possibly sixth Olympic gold to his collection, with Johannes Lochner and Laura Nolte aiming for podium spots too.
Skeleton: Defending Olympic champion Christopher Grotheer is looking sharp and remains one of Germany’s best bets for gold.
Biathlon: Germany’s relay teams are reliably strong, with Franziska Preuß a contender in the women’s individual events.
Figure Skating (Pairs): The elegant duo Minerva‑Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin enter the Games in as European champions and recent World silver medallists.
Alpine Skiing: Young talents Emma Aicher and Linus Strasser look increasingly capable of reaching the podium on Italian slopes.
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