2026 Winter Olympics: New Sports and Events Overview

The 2026 Winter Olympics are fast approaching. Soon, athletes from across the globe will gather in the Milano-Cortina area of Italy to compete in various winter sports.

As is customary with each Olympic edition, several new sports will debut at this year’s Winter Games. Let’s take a moment to explore what’s new this time around.

When we think of skiing, we often envision high-speed races on the slopes. But picture this: skiing uphill instead.

This is essentially what ski mountaineering, or “skimo,” is all about. This exciting addition to the 2026 Winter Olympics involves athletes climbing both up and down mountains rather than just descending. Special skis known as skins are used for some of the uphill segments, while other parts see athletes switch to climbing boots for a series of steps. The event finishes with a thrilling descent back down.

The most crucial aspect of each competition is the transition, a focal point that the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association highlights.

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, there will be three skimo events:

Men’s and Women’s Sprint

The sprint format features both uphill and downhill segments, broken into three stages. Athletes first put on their skins, then remove and store them while navigating steps in their boots, before putting them back on again to continue ascending.

After this climb, they ditch the skins for the descent down the mountain.

Completing one lap of the course constitutes one sprint race.

There will also be an elimination round leading to the finals, where medals will be awarded. Typically, heats last about 3-4 minutes.

A total of 18 athletes will qualify for both the men’s and women’s sprint races, competing in three heats of six. The top three finishers from each heat, along with the next three fastest overall, will move on to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals consist of two races of six athletes each, where the top two from each heat will advance to the final.

The winner is simply the skier who crosses the finish line first in the final race.

Another intriguing event is the mixed relay, where teams of one male and one female athlete compete on a course. In contrast to the sprint, the mixed relay includes four laps per team, with each member taking two laps in the prescribed order—female first, then male.

This format consists of two climbs and one descent, culminating in a final where all teams compete for medals.

Women’s Luge Doubles

Women’s doubles will finally make its Olympic debut at these Games. Teams will race in two races, adhering to the World Cup format. This differs from the singles, which spans four performances over two days.

In discussing the dynamics of doubles, Wolfgang Kindl, a silver medalist in both singles and team relay events at the 2022 Olympics, notes that “in a single-seater you are the boss,” but “in a double-seater, harmony is essential, especially at the start.” He explains that errors can have a much greater impact in doubles due to the nature of shared weight and height, which can lead to increased chances of accidents.

Ski Jumping: Women’s Large Hill

Ski jumping will introduce a women’s large hill competition this year. Women’s ski jumping was first included in the Olympics in 2014, and now this significant addition features athletes tackling a much larger hill. The K point for large hills ranges from 100 to 180 meters (roughly 328 to 591 feet), with the Milan Cortina large hill classified as HS123, featuring a K point of 128 meters (approximately 420 feet).

Scoring primarily focuses on distance and style, with judges adjusting scores based on conditions like wind or gate factors.

Skeleton: Mixed Team Relay

For the first time, the skeleton event will include a mixed team relay in Milan Cortana. Each team, comprising one male and one female rider, will each take a turn on the course, and the team with the fastest total time will secure the gold medal.

Meanwhile, freestyle skiing will continue to evolve with the inclusion of dual moguls for both men and women. In this event, two skiers race side by side on adjacent mogul courses. But speed isn’t the only factor; skiers will also be judged on their turns, air time, and overall performance.

Alpine Skiing: Team Combined

In Alpine skiing, the 2026 Olympics will see some changes. While some events have been cut, like team parallel and individual combination, a new team format will emerge. In this event, teams of two will take on two runs: one downhill and one slalom. Countries can field up to four teams, with the team achieving the lowest combined time earning the gold medal.

However, if one teammate does not finish their run, the second participant won’t be able to proceed.