Countdown to Milano Cortina 2026: IOC President Unveils OMEGA Clock as Ticket Sales Surge

With less than a year until the Opening Ceremony, preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are advancing rapidly. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organizers are ramping up efforts, marked by strong ticket sales and volunteer recruitment.

IOC President Thomas Bach has been actively promoting the event, recently unveiling the OMEGA Countdown Clock in Milan. 

He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the IOC and host nations to ensure a successful Games. The Games are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026.

Nearly 300,000 tickets have been sold in just six days since the public ticketing program launched on February 6. 

The ticketing platform received over 350,000 requests from around the globe, with 70% coming from abroad. The organizers initially planned to recruit 18,000 volunteers; however, they have received 96,000 applications to date.

The Games will be spread across multiple venues in Northern Italy, including Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme. 

They will feature 116 medal events, including the debut of ski mountaineering.

Despite the progress, preparations have faced challenges, including delays and budgetary concerns.