--- title: "Milano Cortina 2026 concludes in Italy; 1.3 million tickets sold, 88% capacity." sdDatePublished: "2026-05-02T02:30:00Z" source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/milano-cortina-2026-figures-records-and-stories-from-a-memorable-edition" topics: - name: "sport event" identifier: "medtop:20001108" - name: "Olympic Games" identifier: "medtop:20001177" - name: "Paralympic Games" identifier: "medtop:20001178" - name: "sport achievement" identifier: "medtop:20001301" - name: "sport organisation" identifier: "medtop:20001125" - name: "social media" identifier: "medtop:20001182" locations: - "France" - "Milan" - "United Kingdom" - "United States" - "El Salvador" - "United Arab Emirates" - "North Macedonia" - "Canada" - "Norway" - "Benin" - "Haiti" - "Brazil" - "Guinea-Bissau" - "Netherlands" - "Montenegro" - "Germany" - "Portugal" - "Switzerland" - "Georgia" - "Belluno" - "Trento" --- Milano Cortina 2026 concludes in Italy; 1.3 million tickets sold, 88% capacity. Milano Cortina 2026: figures, records and stories from a memorable edition Milano Cortina 2026: figures, records and stories from a memorable edition A record-breaking edition: audiences, digital reach and global spectacle TheXXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026concluded as a global success, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. With1.3 million tickets sold, representing88% of total availability, the event attracted spectators from every continent:63% international, with Germany, the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Canada among the most represented markets, and37% from Italy. The most popular sports recorded near sell-out attendance rates:speed skating and short track (95%),figure skating and ice hockey (93%),biathlon (92%),alpine skiing (91%),ski jumping (90%), andbobsleigh and luge (88%). Global interest was also reflected across digital platforms, withover 113 million interactionson official social media channels, around500,000 visitorsto the Fan Villages, and300,000 spectatorsattending the88 Cauldron shows, one of the most iconic symbols of the Games. The Torch Relay: a nationwide countdown TheOlympic Torch Relaymarked the true beginning of the Games for millions of people. With60 stops between December 2025 and February 2026, travelling across Italy before arriving in Milan, the relay turned anticipation into a shared national experience, bringing the Olympic atmosphere to communities across the country. Data collected by theIOC through Nielsen Sportsconfirms this impact:70% of respondentsidentified the Torch Relay as the symbol of the countdown to the Games, with levels of awareness, positive sentiment and support exceeding the benchmarks recorded forParis 2024. Engagement grew as the Flame moved through different regions, following a clear pattern: an increase from the start of the relay, a stabilisation phase in late January, and a new peak just before theOpening Ceremony. Interest and participation were strongest amongmen and audiences aged over 35, with television and traditional media as the main sources, while younger audiences followed the journey primarily throughdigital and social platforms. Olympic and Paralympic athletes: performances and milestones Milano Cortina 2026 featured2,880 Olympic athletes and 611 Paralympic athletes, delivering outstanding performances and writing new chapters in sporting history. Among Olympic highlights,Lucas Pinheiro BraathensecuredBrazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medalin the men’s giant slalom, whileFrancesca Lollobrigidawon two gold medals in speed skating, setting anOlympic recordin the women’s 3,000 metres. Among historic achievements, Switzerland’sSilvana Tirinzoni, aged 46, won silver in women’s curling to become theoldest medallist in Winter Games history, while 17-year-oldChoi Gaonof Korea claimed gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe. The Olympic Games also marked one of the most balanced editions in terms of gender representation, with women accounting for47% of athletesand50 women’s events, a record compared to 46 at Beijing 2022. Twelve of the sixteen sports achieved full gender balance, whileeight events crowned Olympic champions for the first time, including ski mountaineering sprint and relay, mixed team skeleton, dual moguls and the women’s large hill ski jumping. On the Paralympic side,611 athletes and 84 guides from 55 delegationscompeted across six sports in three clusters, with66 sport sessionsand over300 hours of live competition. A total of412 medalswere awarded, alongside approximately150 hours of official training sessions. Lisa Vittozziclaimed Italy’s first gold medal in the pursuit, whileJohannes Dale-Skjevdalsecured Norway’s 17th gold of the edition in the 15 km, setting a new record for the most titles in a single Winter Olympics. Para ice hockeyrecorded the highest attendance, with11,500 tickets soldfor the final between the United States and Canada, confirming the growing sporting and media success of the Paralympic Games. Paralympic athletes also benefited from high-level technical support, including more than370 repair interventionson wheelchairs, prostheses and sports equipment, as well as the three Villages inMilan, Cortina and Predazzo, which hosted1,823 residentsand provided catering, accommodation, relaxation, fitness and psychological support services. Milestones, records and unforgettable stories Milano Cortina 2026 delivered an extensive list of achievements:nine Olympic records and one world record, includingXandra Velzeboerin the women’s 500m short track (41.399),Francesca Lollobrigidain the women’s 3,000m (3:54.28),Sander Eitremin the men’s 5,000m (6:03.95) andJutta Leerdamin the women’s 1,000m (1:12.31). Jordan Stolzset two Olympic records in the men’s 500m and 1,000m speed skating events, whileSelma Poutsma, Xandra Velzeboer and teammatesmade history in the mixed relay short track (2:35.537). A total of29 National Olympic Committeeswon medals, with some reaching the podium for the first time:Brazil (Braathen),Georgia (Metelkina and Berulava), as well as new participating nations including theUnited Arab Emirates, Benin and Guinea-Bissau. On the Paralympic side, five nations made their Winter Games debut:Haiti, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Portugal and El Salvador. Among the volunteers,4,600 Team26 membersensured the smooth delivery of the Games, including155 volunteers with disabilities, covering60 roles across 27 functional areasand contributing to a fully accessible event withaudio description, subtitles, sign language, noise-cancelling headphones, quiet rooms and dedicated transport plans. Milano Cortina 2026 also marked significant progress in sustainability:85% of competition venues were pre-existing or temporary, and nearly100% were powered by renewable energy. A total of24,000 items were reused from Paris 2024,70% of urban waste was recycled, and theMilan Olympic Villagewill be transformed into a community hub with student accommodation. The temporaryCortina Villagehosted1,400 athletes in 377 fully reusable housing units. Milano Cortina 2026 stands as a record-breaking edition in every respect — from athletes to volunteers, from spectators to digital engagement, from sporting performance to sustainability. Olympic and Paralympic athletes demonstrated thatexcellence, inclusion and innovation can go hand in hand, leaving a tangible legacy and setting a new benchmark for future Winter Games. Madrid. Clay. World-class tennis 🎾🔥. Enjoy the best of the Mutua Madrid Open. All with a FREE Olympic Membership. Sign up now 🥇 Picture by 2026 Getty Images 30 April 2026 08:00 GMT+0 Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partners