2026 Winter Olympics Add 8 New Events Including Ski Mountaineering Debut

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, will introduce eight new events and a brand new sport, ski mountaineering, marking the first addition of its kind since 2002. Organizers expect around 2,900 athletes from across the globe to compete in 116 events over more than two weeks, with these updates making the Games the most gender-balanced in Winter Olympic history at 47% women participants.

Background

Italy has hosted Winter Olympics twice before, first in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956 and then in Turin in 2006. The upcoming Games in Milano Cortina build on that history by expanding the program. Ski mountaineering, often called skimo, joins as the only new sport. Athletes in this discipline climb uphill using skins on their skis or carry skis on their backs, then switch to skiing back down. The sport appeared at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games and gained full approval for the Olympics in 2021.

These changes come after the Beijing 2022 Games, which had 109 events across 15 disciplines. Now, the 2026 edition grows to 116 events in 16 disciplines. The International Olympic Committee approved the additions to boost participation, especially for women, and to reflect how sports have evolved. For example, some events shift from solo efforts to team formats, splitting tasks between athletes to match modern training methods.

Nordic combined stays the only all-male sport, but other areas see big steps toward equality. Women will now compete in the same cross-country skiing distances as men for the first time. The NHL also plans to pause its season, letting players join the Olympic ice hockey tournament for the first time since 2014.

Key Details

The eight new events span several sports, each bringing fresh ways to compete.

Ski Mountaineering

This new sport offers three medal events: men's sprint, women's sprint, and a mixed relay. Racers go up and down a course, alternating between skiing and hiking. Speed and endurance matter most, with quick transitions key to winning.

Ski Jumping

Women get their first large hill event. They have jumped on the normal hill before, but the large hill means longer jumps, higher speeds, and tougher tests of skill. Distance and style points decide the winners, matching the men's program.

Skeleton

A mixed team relay debuts here. One woman and one man each take a run down the ice track on a sled, face-first, at speeds up to 130 km/h. Their times add up for the team score. Clean starts and steady slides make the difference.

Luge

Women's doubles joins the lineup. Pairs of women will slide down the track feet-first on a sled, relying on perfect timing and trust. This fills a gap since doubles luge started in 1964 with only men.

Freestyle Skiing

Men's and women's dual moguls pit two skiers against each other on parallel bumpy courses. They hit jumps and weave through moguls at the same time. Judges pick the winner based on speed, turns, and air tricks to advance in knockout rounds.

Alpine Skiing

Team combined replaces the individual version. One teammate handles the downhill for speed, while the other takes the slalom for tight turns around gates. Their combined times determine the medal.

"These additions sharpen the competition and give long-overdue chances to disciplines ready for the big stage." – IOC Official

Other tweaks include dropping the alpine mixed team parallel event due to low turnout. Nordic combined shifts to two-person teams on a large hill with ski jumping and relay cross-country legs.

What This Means

More events mean more medals up for grabs, spreading chances across athletes. The gender balance push opens doors for women in high-profile spots like large hill ski jumping and doubles luge. Teams benefit too, as formats like dual moguls and team combined reward partnerships over solo runs.

Ski mountaineering draws in endurance fans, blending climbing and skiing in a way that tests full-body strength. Expect packed venues in the Italian Alps, where Cortina d'Ampezzo returns as a key site. The changes address past issues, like fading interest in individual alpine combined, by adapting to how athletes train today.

For fans, this means head-to-head drama in dual moguls and team relays that build suspense across genders. The Games run from February 6 to 22, 2026, pulling in crowds to Milano's urban venues and Cortina's snowy peaks. Athletes from the U.S. and elsewhere prepare for these twists, with national teams adjusting strategies.

The expanded program keeps winter sports fresh while honoring traditions like skeleton's speedy slides and luge's precision. With Italy's third Winter hosting bid, locals see a boost in tourism and pride. Over 116 events ensure non-stop action on snow and ice, from sprints to relays.