Milano Cortina 2026: A Distributed Olympic Model Redefining Sustainability and Regional Integration

As preparations accelerate for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, scheduled from February 6 to 22, 2026, organisers are finalising one of the most geographically extensive layouts in Winter Olympics history. Spanning two cities, two regions, and two autonomous provinces, the Games will unfold across more than 22,000 square kilometres of northern Italy. Metropolitan venues in Milan are paired with historic Alpine centres in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, Bormio, Anterselva, and Val di Fiemme, creating a unified framework that bridges urban infrastructure with mountain landscapes.

More than 90% of all venues are existing or temporary facilities—an approach aligned with the event’s commitment to sustainability, adaptive reuse, and low-impact construction. Nearly 2,900 athletes will compete in 116 events, including the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering and new mixed-gender disciplines, reflecting evolving trends in global winter sports programming.

Six Olympic Villages Reflect a Distributed, Low-Impact Hosting Model

In parallel with the dispersed competition layout, Milano Cortina 2026 will operate six Olympic and Paralympic Villages, each positioned near major sporting hubs. Located in Milan, Predazzo, Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the villages mirror the decentralised structure of the Games while reducing travel times for athletes. Most rely on renovated, repurposed, or temporary facilities, minimising the need for new construction and supporting the Games’ broader environmental strategy.

Together, this adaptive network—combined with historic venues such as San Siro and the Verona Arena—defines Milano Cortina 2026 as a model shaped by interregional collaboration, diverse terrains, and a new territorial approach to large-scale sporting events.

Official Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic & Paralympic Villages

A peaceful alpine village with traditional houses and a tall church steeple set in a green valley, surrounded by forested hills and snow-covered mountain peaks in the background. — A quiet mountain village lies nestled in a lush valley, framed by towering, snow-covered peaks.

Anterselva Olympic Village

Located in the valley of Rasun-Anterselva, the Anterselva Olympic Village will utilise four existing hotels, offering around 300 beds. The design supports biathlon athletes, with dining areas, preparation zones, and common spaces arranged to encourage accessibility and interaction. Positioned adjacent to the Anterselva Biathlon Arena, it exemplifies the Games’ emphasis on infrastructure reuse and minimal environmental impact.

A snowy alpine town surrounded by tall, rugged mountains under a clear blue sky, with houses and buildings covered in fresh snow. — A bright winter day reveals an alpine town blanketed in snow, resting in a valley beneath towering mountain peaks.

Bormio Olympic Village

Set within Bormio’s historic Alpine setting, this village spreads athlete accommodations across four existing hotels, providing about 400 beds. Integrated within the Valtellina cluster, the village offers direct access to the Stelvio Ski Centre, host of the men’s Alpine skiing events and the debut of ski mountaineering. The configuration supports the Games’ focus on low-impact development and community-embedded infrastructure.

A snowy alpine town with a tall church tower at its center, surrounded by buildings and hillside homes beneath cloudy, snow-covered mountains. — A sweeping winter view captures an alpine town clustered around its iconic church tower, set against snow-covered slopes and misty mountain peaks.

Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic

Located in Fiames within the Dolomites, this temporary complex will house around 1,400 athletes using modular single-story units linked by accessible pathways. A central plaza will host media activities and delegation gatherings. Close to key venues—including the Cortina Sliding Centre and Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre—the village reflects a commitment to temporary, lightweight construction suited to sensitive Alpine environments.

Livigno Olympic Village

Organised across three existing hotels, the Livigno Village provides approximately 800 beds. Its proximity to the Livigno Snow Park and the Aerials & Moguls Park ensures minimal travel time for freestyle skiing and snowboarding athletes. The village integrates seamlessly into Livigno’s long-standing winter sports culture while reducing the Games’ construction footprint.

A group of modern residential buildings with large solar panel arrays on their rooftops, set within an urban district overlooking a wide cityscape. — A modern housing development features extensive rooftop solar installations, showcasing sustainable design within a dense urban environment.

Milano Olympic

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the Milan Village transforms a former industrial site into a high-performance urban district aligned with NZEB standards. Hosting around 1,700 athletes, the complex features mass timber structures, solar panels, rooftop gardens, and low-carbon materials. After the Games, it will transition into student and affordable housing, making it one of the key legacy projects of Milano Cortina 2026.

Aerial wide shot of a European mountain town nestled in a valley with steep, green, forested slopes on either side and light haze in the distant peaks. — A charming, densely built town located deep in a valley surrounded by vibrant green forests on the mountainsides under a bright, clear sky.

Predazzo Olympic

Integrated into the Alpine School of the Guardia di Finanza, this village combines existing facilities with selective new construction to host approximately 750 athletes. As the logistical hub for Val di Fiemme, it provides direct access to the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium and the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium. Post-Games, all structures will continue servicing local and regional needs.

Renovation of Hayward Field

Distributed Design Scholarship Competition 2021 > IAAC’s Master in Design for Emergent Futures

Project Data

Architect / Design Firm:

Milan Olympic and Paralympic Village: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Other Villages: Renovation and adaptive reuse works by regional public authorities and local engineering/design teams.

Photographers:

Andrea Vicentini
AerialVision_it
NorthSky Films
qwesy qwesy
Delbo Andrea
Kelly

The Milano Cortina 2026 project represents a paradigm shift from both an architectural and organizational standpoint. It poses fundamental questions about the future of Olympic architecture, proposing a viable model for regions possessing existing and diverse infrastructure. However, the major critical challenge lies in ensuring the success of the post-Games phase. While the planned conversion of the Milan Village into student housing is promising, the long-term success of the decentralized model hinges entirely on the quality of the legacy in the distant Alpine sites. It is crucial to ensure that these clusters do not become temporary destinations that lose their value after the conclusion of the competitions. This requires continuous effort in community integration and optimizing interior design networks to guarantee their sustained appeal.