When are the next Winter Olympics? Mark your calendars for the Milan-Cortina Games

There are less than 100 days until the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Starting July 26, millions of people around the world will tune in to watch the various events, such as gymnastics, soccer and volleyball.

The Olympics alternate seasons every four years, and the next Winter Games are just a few years out.

Athletes from across the globe will trade in their sunglasses and shorts for ski jackets and figure skates. Before the Winter Games' start swiftly slides in like a skier, here is what to know about the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

When is the next Winter Olympics?

The next Winter Games will begin on Feb. 6, 2026. The 116 events will span across 16 days, concluding on Feb. 22.

The Paralympic Games will take place a month later, starting March 6 and ending March 15.

Where is the next Winter Olympics?

Many of the 2026 Winter Olympic events are set in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

This marks the country's fourth time hosting the Games. Italy previously hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo won the bid to become the host cities of the 2026 Winter Games back in 2019. The final vote of 47 to 34 favored them over Stockholm, Sweden.

However, several events – including the closing ceremony – will occur across northern Italy, including in Valtellina, Val di Fiemme, Verona and Anterselva.

Part of the Winter Olympics may even be held in the U.S. In December 2023, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced it submitted a proposal to host the sliding events − bobsled, skeleton and luge − in Lake Placid, New York for the 2026 Games.

The planned venue in Cortina needs construction, which has been delayed for several months. The funding needed to fix it has also increased, leading to the possibility of a location change.

How many sports in the Winter Olympics?

At the 2026 Winter Games, there will be 16 sports:

• Cross-country skiing

• Ice hockey

• Freestyle skiing

• Short track speed skating

• Figure skating

• Snowboard

• Alpine skiing

• Bobsleigh

• Skeleton

• Luge

• Ski jumping

• Curling

• Biathlon

• Speed skating

• Nordic combined

• Ski mountaineering

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is the next Winter Olympics? What to know about 2026 Italy games