2026 Winter Paralympics Overview
The 2026 Winter Paralympics will be held from March 6 to March 15, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, featuring more than 650 athletes competing for 79 gold medals across six sports.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on March 6, while the closing ceremony will take place on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
Sports and Participation
Competitors will participate in para alpine skiing, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, para snowboarding, para ice hockey, and wheelchair curling. Notably, this edition will feature wheelchair curling mixed doubles for the first time.
Additionally, five countries—El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Portugal—will compete for the first time in the history of the Winter Paralympics.
This edition marks the 50th anniversary of the first Winter Paralympics, which took place in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. Austria holds the record for the most medals in Winter Paralympics history with 345, while Norway has secured the most gold medals, totaling 140.
Ragnhild Myklebust is a standout athlete, holding the record for the most Winter Paralympic medals with 27.
Statements from Officials
IPC President Andrew Parsons emphasized the importance of these games, stating, “These games are about sport. But not only sport. These games are about inclusion too.” Giacomo Bertagnolli remarked, “It will be a big stage for me and for the whole Paralympic world because we are finally in Italy and in Europe.”
As the event approaches, observers anticipate a significant impact on visibility and inclusion in the sports community. Visibility creates belief—and belief can change a life. Details remain unconfirmed.
