The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have required an unprecedented investment in Italian mountain infrastructure. From the rebuilt sliding centre in Cortina to the purpose-built freestyle venues in Livigno, the Games have transformed the physical landscape of Italian skiing. Here is a comprehensive overview of every venue and facility.
Overview: Six Venues, One Vision
Milan-Cortina 2026 operates across six main competition venues:
| Venue | Disciplines | Key investment |
|---|---|---|
| Cortina d’Ampezzo | Alpine skiing (women), Bob/skeleton/luge, Curling | 85m euro sliding centre, Tofane upgrades |
| Bormio | Alpine skiing (men) | Stelvio finish area, snowmaking |
| Livigno | Freestyle skiing, Snowboard | Mottolino/Carosello venues |
| Anterselva | Biathlon | Biathlon complex upgrades |
| Val di Fiemme | Cross-country, Ski jumping, Nordic combined | Stadium upgrades |
| Milan/Verona | Ice sports, Opening ceremony | Arena upgrades |
Cortina d’Ampezzo: The Alpine Capital
Tofane Alpine Skiing Venue
The Tofane slopes have been in international competition use for decades, hosting annual World Cup women’s races. For the Olympics, the investment focused on:
- Improved snowmaking coverage on the Olympia delle Tofane course
- Extended spectator areas at the finish with new grandstands
- Upgraded timing and broadcast infrastructure
- Improved access roads and emergency vehicle paths
The Olympia delle Tofane race course (3.4 km, 920 m vertical drop) required no fundamental modifications: it was already at the required technical standard.
Eugenio Monti Sliding Centre
The most significant and controversial infrastructure project of the Games. The original 1956 sliding centre was demolished in 2008 after falling into disuse; the new facility was built from scratch at a cost of approximately 85 million euros.
Technical specifications:
- Length: 1,435 m (12th longest in the world)
- Curves: 19
- Maximum speed: approximately 130 km/h
- Start altitude: 1,670 m; finish: 1,185 m
- Refrigeration system: ammonia-based, meeting Olympic environmental standards
The sliding centre was the subject of significant controversy, with critics questioning the investment for an asset with limited post-Olympic use. Proponents argue it provides Italy with a permanent sliding sport facility and the potential to host international competitions indefinitely.
Bormio: The Classic Downhill
Stelvio Race Course
The legendary Stelvio course required relatively modest preparation for the Olympics compared with Cortina’s sliding centre:
- Extended snowmaking infrastructure to guarantee racing surface from early December
- Rebuilt finish area with expanded spectator grandstands (capacity: 12,000)
- New broadcast tower positions for enhanced television coverage
- Improved safety netting and course maintenance equipment
The Stelvio course itself (3,270 m, 1,000 m vertical drop, 63% max gradient) needed no technical modifications: it was already approved at the highest FIS level.
Livigno: Purpose-Built for Freestyle
Mottolino Olympic Snow Park
The Mottolino venue for freestyle skiing was designed specifically for Olympic standards:
- Halfpipe: 170 m long, 22 m wide, 7 m walls (meets FIS Superpipe standards)
- Big air structure: 70 m tall kicker with a landing slope of 60 m
- Moguls course: 250 m, 27% average gradient
- Aerials jump: redesigned for television angles
Total investment in Mottolino Olympic facilities: approximately 22 million euros.
Carosello Snowboard Venue
The Carosello slopestyle and snowboard cross venues were developed on the western mountain:
- Slopestyle course: 600 m with eight features (rails, boxes, jumps)
- Snowboard cross track: 1,050 m with multiple banked turns and jumps
- Big air facility shared with the ski programme
Anterselva: The Biathlon Temple
The Ruhepolt biathlon stadium in Anterselva/Antholz is already one of the world’s most beloved biathlon venues. Olympic investment focused on:
- Expanded shooting range (from 30 to 38 lanes)
- Improved spectator infrastructure (capacity: 18,000)
- Extended media and broadcast facilities
- Improved parking and transport connections to Brunico/Bruneck
Val di Fiemme: Nordic Heart
The Lago di Tesero cross-country stadium and the Predazzo ski jump complex have been upgraded for the Nordic disciplines:
- Cross-country course resurfaced with improved drainage
- Ski jump tower at Predazzo extended and modernised
- Combined indoor/outdoor training facilities at Tesero
The Infrastructure Legacy
Every Olympic venue is designed with post-Games use in mind:
- The sliding centre can host World Cup bobsled and luge events
- The Livigno snowparks will serve as permanent competition and training facilities
- The Bormio finish area will continue to host World Cup races
- All improvements to cross-country and biathlon facilities serve ongoing competition calendars