Milano-Cortina 2026: Europe’s Next Generation Takes the Stage

7 November 2025
The countdown is on: 91 days to go until the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and Europe’s new generation of winter athletes is ready to step into the spotlight.

After years of groundwork through the European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOF) in Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2023 and Bakuriani 2025, the continent approaches these Games with depth, confidence and clear signs of renewal.

Italy’s Stage, Europe’s Moment

Milano-Cortina will bring together two worlds — the modern urban pulse of Milan and the Alpine heritage of Cortina d’Ampezzo — in a format that aims to be sustainable, connected and inclusive.
The Arena di Verona will host the closing ceremony, adding a touch of history and culture to a Games that symbolise both Italian excellence and European unity.

🏔️ From Friuli-Venezia Giulia to Bakuriani: The Pathway to the Podium

Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2023: Foundations of the Future

The EYOF in Friuli-Venezia Giulia launched this new cycle of talent. Young Europeans excelled in traditional and emerging disciplines — alpine skiing, biathlon, freestyle and snowboard — setting benchmarks that would carry into their national teams.
Nations like Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and France refined their youth systems there, turning promise into structure.

Bakuriani 2025: Confirmation of the Rebuild

In Bakuriani (Georgia), the next chapter unfolded. The 2025 EYOF showcased the evolution of that same generation — more technical, more adaptable, and more competitive than ever.
Under challenging conditions, Europe dominated once again, confirming the depth of its development networks from the Alps to the Caucasus.

🌍 Gangwon 2024: European Excellence on a Global Stage

At the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon (South Korea), Europe’s young athletes took control of the medal tables.
From Switzerland and Austria to France, Italy and Germany, the continent’s talent shone across alpine skiing, Nordic combined and biathlon. Those results were not isolated successes — they were a preview of what’s to come in 2026.

Gangwon became proof that Europe’s youth development programmes are not only consistent but world-leading, producing athletes ready to win on any stage.

⚡ The New DNA of European Winter Sport

This new generation brings a distinctive identity:

• Multi-skilled: blending classical technique with freestyle creativity.
• Data-driven: training with technology, analytics and mental preparation.
• Internationally experienced: accustomed to Olympic settings before their senior debut.

They represent a Europe that competes with imagination and confidence — one that no longer waits for the future but builds it actively through structure and opportunity.

🔜 Towards Milano-Cortina 2026

As teams finalise their rosters and test events wrap up, Milano-Cortina is set to be a showcase of continuity and renewal.
The athletes who grew through Friuli-Venezia and Bakuriani, and triumphed in Gangwon, will arrive not as newcomers — but as the face of a new European era in winter sport.

Europe’s next champions are no longer on the horizon.
They are already here.