Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics at a glance
- The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games run from 6 – 15 March 2026, with wheelchair curling starting early on 4 March.
- Six Para sports and 79 medal events are planned, with around 650+ Para athletes expected to compete across Northern Italy.
- Key venues include Verona Arena for the Opening Ceremony, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme for snow events, and PalaItalia in Milan for Para ice hockey and wheelchair curling.
- Fans can follow the countdown through the IPC and Milano Cortina 2026 websites, Olympics.com, Paralympics New Zealand, and national broadcasters and streaming platforms, including TVNZ here in New Zealand.
2026 Paralympic Winter Games – Key dates and schedule overview
If you are wondering “When do the Winter Paralympics start?” – Milano Cortina 2026 officially runs from 6 – 15 March 2026, marking the 14th Paralympic Winter Games and the 50th anniversary of the first edition in 1976. Some competition will begin early, with wheelchair curling scheduled to start on 4 March to accommodate its round-robin format.
Across ten days of competition, athletes will race and compete in six Winter Paralympic sports: Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing, Para biathlon, Para snowboard, Para ice hockey, and wheelchair curling. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed that around 665 athletes will line up in approximately 79 medal events, making Milano Cortina 2026 one of the biggest Winter Paralympic programmes to date.
Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic dates
- 4 March 2026 – wheelchair curling competition begins in Milan
- 6 March 2026 – Opening Ceremony at Verona Arena
- 7 – 15 March 2026 – full programme across all six Para sports
- 15 March 2026 – Closing Ceremony in Cortina d’Ampezzo
These dates sit within a wider Olympic and Paralympic window in Northern Italy, with the Olympic Winter Games taking place in February and the Paralympic Winter Games following in March, creating a multi-month celebration of snow and ice sport.
Qualification events and team announcements
In the lead up to Milano Cortina 2026, a global qualification cycle is underway, with athletes earning quota places for their countries through World Championships, World Cups, and ranking lists in each sport. The IPC’s Milano Cortina 2026 Qualification Regulations set out how many athletes and teams can qualify in each discipline, and which events carry qualification points.
For New Zealand, Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) and Snow Sports NZ work together on nomination criteria and selection policies for Para alpine skiing and any additional snow sports where Kiwis are targeting Milan and Cortina.
What to watch on the road to 2026
- World Para Snow Sports Championships and World Cup circuits in Para alpine skiing, Para snowboard, and Nordic events.
- Para ice hockey world and regional championships that feed into the Paralympic team tournament.
- Wheelchair curling world championships and qualification events that determine which mixed-gender teams secure Paralympic spots.
Team announcements typically happen in phases as qualification windows close, with many National Paralympic Committees confirming their full Paralympic Winter teams in late 2025 or early 2026. PNZ will confirm the New Zealand Paralympic Team once athletes have met both IPC qualification criteria and PNZ’s own performance and selection standards – keep an eye on the PNZ Milano Cortina 2026 Games page for these milestone announcements, with two Para athletes already confirmed for Milano Cortina – Paralympian #158 Adam Hall MNZM and Paralympian #188 Corey Peters MNZM.
For more information about the Games and the lead up to the Games, check out our recent posts on how many people are expected to watch the Winter Paralympics and how the Games have grown over time in PNZ’s supporting articles such as “How many people will watch the Paralympic Winter Games?” and “The evolution of the Winter Paralympics from 1976 to 2026” which both help to provide extra background on audience growth and movement history.
Milano Cortina 2026 Venue previews
Milano Cortina 2026 is built around a multi-cluster model, spreading events across several iconic Italian winter sport regions and urban centres. This approach allows organisers to use existing world-class venues and stunning alpine landscapes, while also investing in accessibility and legacy.
Key Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic venues
- Verona Arena - host of the Opening Ceremony on 6 March 2026, and the first time a Paralympic Winter Opening Ceremony will be staged in an ancient Roman amphitheatre.
- Cortina d’Ampezzo - venue for Para alpine skiing speed and technical events, Para snowboard, and the Closing Ceremony, building on its heritage from the 1956 Winter Olympics.
- Val di Fiemme (Tesero) - Nordic cluster for Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon, using established trail networks and biathlon stadium facilities.
- Milan (PalaItalia Santa Giulia and related arenas) - home of Para ice hockey and wheelchair curling, played in new or upgraded multi-purpose arenas designed with state-of-the-art accessibility in mind.
Organisers have emphasised sustainability and legacy, aiming to maximise existing infrastructure, repurpose exhibition and fair spaces, and design venues that can transition into community and multi-sport use after the Games. For example, the Milano Ice Park in Rho is being adapted to host Olympic speed skating and ice hockey, then revert to a flexible sport and events space in the years after 2026, reflecting the wider Milan and Cortina strategy around sustainable Games hosting.
If you want a sport-by-sport preview, PNZ’s “Winter Paralympic sports explained – every discipline at Milano Cortina 2026” digs into how Para alpine skiing, Para snowboard, Para ice hockey, wheelchair curling, Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon work, including New Zealand stories across those Para sports as well as a look at some of the favourites for Milano Cortina.
How to follow countdowns and updates
Whether you are a first-time viewer or a long-time Paralympic fan, there are plenty of ways to follow the Winter Paralympic countdown and stay on top of key milestones.
Official and international channels
- International Paralympic Committee (IPC) – the IPC’s Milano Cortina 2026 hub carries overall Games information, qualification updates, Para sport summaries, and eventually full competition schedules.
- Olympics.com – the official Olympics and Paralympics digital platform publishes schedules, venue explainers, and “latest updates” articles on programme changes and new features for Milano Cortina 2026.
- Wikipedia - the 2026 Winter Paralympics page provides a concise overview of dates, Para sports, venues, and future updates to medal events and participating nations, useful for quick fact checks.
New Zealand specific coverage
- Paralympics New Zealand – PNZ’s Milano Cortina 2026 hub and news section will feature New Zealand team selection announcements, athlete stories, and practical guides such as “When are the next Paralympic Winter Games? Your complete guide to Milano Cortina 2026”.
- PNZ’s supporting articles on topics like “How many sports are there in the Paralympic Winter Games?” and “Winter Paralympic sports explained” help new fans understand what they are watching, and add context around Kiwi medal chances and sporting heritage.
Broadcast, streaming, and social media
- In many countries, national broadcasters secure rights to show live coverage, highlights shows, and daily wrap ups – for New Zealand, recent Games have featured coverage on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+ alongside digital highlights and clips.
- Expect richer digital experiences in 2026, including real time results, push notifications, mobile apps with accessibility features, and social media content from the IPC, Milano Cortina 2026, national teams, and athletes themselves.
- PNZ Social Channels – for the first time, we will also have our own team on the ground as Jack Bouchier, Media Liaison and Content Creator, will be based in Milano Cortina to provide the inside track on life inside the New Zealand Paralympic Team camp, with regular reports, short video highlights, athlete interviews and more published across our social platforms.
Why this Winter Paralympics will be special
Milano Cortina 2026 is more than just a new host city and a new set of races – it lands at a milestone moment in Winter Paralympic history. These Games mark 50 years since the first Paralympic Winter Games in 1976, and come after record participation in Beijing 2022, where 564 athletes from 46 countries competed.
The IPC and organisers are also emphasising sustainability, inclusion, and innovation, targeting higher female participation, more nations, and new technologies that improve both athlete performance analysis and spectator accessibility. For fans in Aotearoa New Zealand, Milano Cortina 2026 is another chapter in a proud Winter Paralympic story that has already produced 35 medals, including 17 gold, including both of our current confirmed competitors in Milano Cortina – Adam Hall and Corey Peters.
For a closer look at how far the Winter Paralympics have come, PNZ’s “The evolution of the Winter Paralympics from 1976 to 2026” connects the dots between early pioneers and the modern multi-venue Games we will see in 2026.
FAQs – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics
When do the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics start?
The Winter Paralympics begin with the Opening Ceremony on 6 March 2026 and close on 15 March 2026, with some events such as wheelchair curling starting earlier from 4 March.
Where are the 2026 Winter Paralympics being held?
Events are shared between Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Northern Italy, with additional clusters in Verona and Val di Fiemme, creating a multi region Games that uses both urban arenas and alpine venues.
How many sports are in the Winter Paralympics?
Milano Cortina 2026 will feature six Para sports; Para alpine skiing, Para snowboard, Para cross-country skiing, Para biathlon, Para ice hockey, and wheelchair curling, the same core programme used at Beijing 2022.
How many athletes will compete at Milano Cortina 2026?
The IPC’s qualification regulations project around 665 Para athletes across 79 medal events, reflecting continued growth in athlete numbers and competitive opportunities.
What key milestones are coming up before the Games?
Key waypoints include completion of IPC qualification windows in each Para sport, publication of the detailed competition schedule, national team selection announcements, and venue test events in 2025 and early 2026.
How can fans stay informed about Milano Cortina 2026?
Fans can follow Paralympics New Zealand’s social channels, the IPC and Milano Cortina 2026 websites, the Olympics.com news section, PNZ’s Milano Cortina 2026 hub, and national broadcasters and streaming services, as well as social media channels for teams and athletes.
Where can I learn more about Winter Paralympic sports?
Paralympics New Zealand has created dedicated guides covering how many sports are in the Winter Paralympics, sport-by-sport explainers for every discipline at Milano Cortina 2026, and a complete timing guide for the next Winter Games.
