The Winter Olympic Games are a global sporting event that celebrate athletic excellence in snow and ice disciplines, bringing together the world’s best winter athletes every four years. The Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026 take place from February 6-22 in the breathtaking Northern Italian regions of Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno, Val di Fiemme, Anterselva, and Verona. This will be the 25th Olympic Winter Games, featuring 116 medal events across 16 winter sports.

Locations

The opening ceremony will get underway on February 6 at San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan, and the closing ceremony on February 22 at Verona Arena, a historic Roman amphitheatre. Milan will host ice hockey, figure skating, and short track. The women's alpine skiing events will be in Cortina d’Ampezzo, while Bormio and Livigno will host the men’s alpine skiing, freestyle, and snowboarding. Cross-country skiing and ski jumping will take place at Val di Fiemme (Tesero and Predazzo), and Anterselva will host the Biathlon.

Here's what operators need to know about parking and health requirements.

Operational Information

Milan Malpensa Airport (LIMC) will be used for high profile and diplomatic flights, Milan Linate (LIML) is the option for flights below 50 tons, private, and commercial flights
Good alternatives include Turin (LIMF) and Bologna (LIPE)
For all airports it is necessary to receive confirmation of the parking and release the PPR or Slot or diplomatic clearance depending on the purpose of the flight
Gendec and passengers manifest is compulsory for arrival and departure
For Russian operators: Italian airspace is closed to Russian Federation flights

Milan Linate Airport

IATA: LIN
ICAO: LIML
Coordinates: N45-26’58’’N 009à16’42’’E
Magnetic variation: 6°E
Elevation: 353 ft / 108 m
Time zone: UTC +1

Parking

Parking across the north of Italy will be extremely tight for the duration of the Games
The most reliable BizAv option is Bergamo (LIME) with 17 self-manoeuvring stands and a new GAT
Malpensa (LIMC) and Linate (LIML) have spaces, but Linate is difficult to secure
Airports like Brescia (LIPO), Bolzano (LIPB), Treviso (LIPH), Venice (LIPZ), Trieste (LIPQ) and Verona (LIPX), Samedan (LSZS), and Innsbruck (LOWI) are extremely limited so repositioning will be necessary
Practical alternates include Genova (LIMJ), Ancona (LIPY), Forli (LIPK), Rimini (LIPR), Cuneo (LIMZ), and Turin (LIMF)
Expect airspace restrictions and secure slots and PPRs early

Important Health Protocols

Operators planning flights to Italy must submit a declaration on official company letterhead confirming whether any of their aircraft have visited countries considered at risk for Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes, Zika Virus, Dengue Virus, or Yellow Fever within the 28 days prior to arrival at Linate.

This declaration must clearly state that the aircraft (or the entire fleet, if applicable) has not operated in any of the identified risk areas during that period. The signed declaration must be sent to the following email addresses:

usma.linate.tecnici@sanita.it
usma.varese@sanita.it

Click here for the list of countries at risk of Zika Virus and Dengue.
Click here for the list of countries at risk of Yellow Fever.
Click here for the list of countries at risk of Malaria.

Aircraft arriving from risk countries

A valid Residual Disinsection Certificate must be on board. This certificate must confirm that the last disinsection was carried out no more than 8 weeks prior to arrival
In the absence of such a certificate, the airline is required to arrange for immediate disinsection of the aircraft by authorized service providers operating at Linate and Malpensa Airports
This service is available through prior request only
Please note that the issuance of a Residual Disinsection Certificate is not immediate, it is strongly recommended that operators arrive in Italy with the valid certificate already on board

History of the Winter Games

First held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, the Winter Olympics were created to give winter sports their own international stage, separate from the Summer Games where they had previously appeared. Today, the Winter and Summer Olympics alternate every two years, keeping the Olympic spirit alive on a regular cycle. The Games feature a wide range of sports including alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, biathlon, bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton. Each sport offers its own drama, from the elegance of figure skating to the high-speed intensity of downhill skiing and the split-second margins that decide races on the ice.

Hosting the Winter Olympics is a major undertaking, requiring cold-weather venues, mountains or artificial slopes, and extensive infrastructure, which is why host cities are often located in regions with established winter sports traditions. Over the years, cities such as Lillehammer, Vancouver, Sochi, PyeongChang, and Beijing have left distinct marks on Olympic history, combining sport with cultural showcases during elaborate opening and closing ceremonies. Countries with strong winter climates and training systems have traditionally dominated the medal tables, with Norway standing out as the most successful nation in Winter Olympic history.

Beyond competition, the Winter Olympics promote the core Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect, uniting athletes and fans across national and cultural boundaries. In recent decades, the Games have continued to evolve, adding new events and disciplines, particularly in snowboarding and freestyle skiing, to reflect changing sports culture and attract younger audiences. At the same time, organizers face modern challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and the high cost of hosting, leading to increased focus on environmentally responsible planning and reuse of existing venues. Despite these challenges, the Winter Olympics remain one of the world’s most watched and celebrated sporting events, capturing the imagination of millions through moments of triumph, resilience, and unforgettable performances on the world’s coldest and most demanding stages.

Major global events like the Winter Olympics place significant demands on operators, from logistics and safety to regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. Success in these high-profile environments depends on early planning, clear coordination, and access to experienced support. Operators are strongly advised to prepare well in advance, assess potential risks, and ensure they have the right systems and expertise in place. Partnering with a trusted specialist can make a critical difference.

Contact UAS for support with your flight operations to the Winter Games