Alpine Skiing at Milano Cortina 2026: Events, Venues & Schedule
Complete guide to all 11 alpine skiing events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, held on the legendary Tofane and Stelvio courses in Italy.
Overview
Alpine skiing delivers 11 medal events at Milano Cortina 2026, split between two iconic World Cup venues in the Italian Alps. The discipline remains one of the most-watched sports at every Winter Olympics, combining raw speed, technical precision, and the ever-present drama of racing on the edge of control.
The Venues
Olimpia delle Tofane — Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina's Tofane course has hosted World Cup women's speed events for decades and was the centrepiece of the 1956 Winter Olympics. At Milano Cortina 2026, it serves as the stage for women's alpine events and the men's combined. The course drops from approximately 2,100 metres to the finish area in Cortina at around 1,225 metres, with dramatic views of the Dolomite rock faces.
Pista Stelvio — Bormio
The Stelvio in Bormio is one of the most demanding downhill courses in the world. It features the fearsome San Pietro section, steep compression turns, and sustained high-speed sections. Bormio hosts men's speed events and serves as the venue for men's and women's giant slalom and slalom.
The 11 Medal Events
| Event | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Downhill | Yes | Yes |
| Super-G | Yes | Yes |
| Giant Slalom | Yes | Yes |
| Slalom | Yes | Yes |
| Combined | Yes | Yes |
| Team Parallel | Mixed | — |
Speed Events: Downhill and Super-G
The downhill is the blue-ribbon event of alpine skiing. Racers reach speeds exceeding 140 km/h on a single run that leaves no room for error. The super-G combines downhill speed with tighter gate spacing, demanding both courage and quick reflexes. Unlike the downhill, there are no official training runs for the super-G, so athletes see the course at race speed for the first time on competition day.
Technical Events: Giant Slalom and Slalom
Giant slalom requires two runs on reshaped courses, with the combined time determining the winner. Slalom is the tightest and most technical discipline, with gates set just a few metres apart, demanding rapid edge-to-edge transitions and explosive agility. Two runs are contested, and the leader after run one starts later in run two, building suspense as the best racers chase the clock.
Alpine Combined
The combined pairs a shortened downhill run with a single slalom run. It rewards versatility, as specialists in either speed or technical events must step outside their comfort zone. The combined field is often smaller, but the battles between all-rounders are intense.
Team Parallel Event
The team parallel pits nations against each other in a head-to-head bracket format. Each team fields two men and two women who race parallel courses in a knockout format. Introduced at PyeongChang 2018, the event has become a fan favourite for its direct, fast-paced racing and national pride.
Key Storylines
The home crowd will be firmly behind Italy's Sofia Goggia, who returns to Olympic competition on courses she has raced many times on the World Cup tour. Switzerland's Marco Odermatt enters as the dominant force in men's giant slalom and overall standings, while Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States chases further history in the technical events. Lindsey Vonn's remarkable comeback adds another layer of anticipation to the speed disciplines.