Winter Olympics Cortina 2026 | Full Schedule, Events & Betting Odds
The Winter Olympics are packed with fun betting opportunities for Canadian fans. From snowboarding big air to biathlon races, Milano Cortina 2026 has plenty of events and markets to choose from. Whether you like betting on favorites or taking a shot on underdogs, there’s something for everyone. Continue reading to discover top contenders and betting opportunities!
2026 Winter Olympics: All You Need to Know
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games are heading to Italy from February 6-22, 2026, marking the first time since Turin 2006 that Italy hosts the winter spectacle. What makes these Games unique is the dual-city hosting model, splitting events between Milan, Italy's fashion capital, and the legendary alpine resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Milano Cortina 2026 will feature approximately 2,900 athletes from 92 nations competing for 116 medals across 8 sports and 16 disciplines. The competitions will be spread across five clusters in Northern Italy, with the opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro Stadium and the closing ceremony at the historic Verona Arena. The 2026 Games will introduce several exciting changes. Ski Mountaineering makes its Olympic debut, adding five new medal events. The tournament will also welcome back NHL players to the ice hockey competition for the first time since Sochi 2014, restoring the tournament to true best-on-best status and significantly increasing global interest. New events in existing sports include Women's Large Hill ski jumping and Mixed Team skeleton events. With 87% of venues being existing or temporary structures, these Games aim to be among the most sustainable Winter Olympics ever.
Full Schedule and Events
The 2026 Winter Olympics will deliver 17 days of competition, starting two days before the official opening ceremony and culminating with the men's ice hockey final on the last day. Here's the complete schedule of events:
| Day | Date | Medal Events | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2 | Feb 4 | 0 | Preliminary events begin |
| 1 | Feb 6 | 0 | Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium |
| 2 | Feb 7 | 6 | First medals: Biathlon, Alpine Skiing begin |
| 3 | Feb 8 | 8 | Speed Skating, Snowboarding start |
| 4 | Feb 9 | 9 | Figure Skating begins |
| 5 | Feb 10 | 9 | Mixed Team Short Track |
| 6 | Feb 11 | 7 | Ice Hockey starts (Men's & Women's) |
| 7 | Feb 12 | 9 | Women's Snowboard Halfpipe |
| 8 | Feb 13 | 7 | Men's Snowboard Halfpipe |
| 9 | Feb 14 | 8 | Skeleton begins |
| 10 | Feb 15 | 9 | Mixed Team Snowboard, New Mixed Skeleton |
| 11 | Feb 16 | 6 | Monobob (Women's) |
| 12 | Feb 17 | 7 | Two-Man Bobsleigh |
| 13 | Feb 18 | 8 | Women's Alpine Slalom Final, Hockey Quarterfinals |
| 14 | Feb 19 | 7 | Ski Mountaineering Debut - Sprint events |
| 15 | Feb 20 | 6 | Ice Hockey Semi-Finals (Men's) |
| 16 | Feb 21 | 10 | Men's Curling Final, Skimo Relay |
| 17 | Feb 22 | 4 | Finals Day: Four-Man Bob, Curling, Ice Hockey Gold |
| 17 | Feb 22 | - | Closing Ceremony at Verona Arena |
Total: 116 Medal Events
Which countries are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The Winter Olympics typically features nations with strong winter sports traditions, though participation has expanded in recent decades. Countries qualify based on their athletes meeting Olympic qualification standards in each sport, with some nations focusing on specific disciplines where they excel.
Participating Countries by Continent:
Europe
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Netherlands, Great Britain, Russia (participation pending), Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland
North America
Canada, United States, Mexico
Asia
Japan, China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore
Oceania
Australia, New Zealand
South America
Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador
Africa
South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Madagascar
Viewers can find top sportsbook platforms to bet from any country, with BettingRanker's country lists.
Betting on the Winter Olympics 2026: Bet Types & Offers
Winter Olympics betting offers diverse markets to suit every type of bettor. For beginners, Moneyline (outright winner) bets are the simplest option – just pick who will win the event. These work well for individual competitions like skiing and figure skating or team sports like hockey.
More experienced bettors might prefer Over/Under wagers on statistics like a country’s total medal count or hockey goals scored. The Point Spread (called the Puck Line in hockey) levels the playing field by requiring favorites to win by a certain margin.
Head-to-Head matchups are perfect for sports like skiing, where you can bet on which of two specific athletes will finish higher, regardless of whether they medal. For a safer bet with lower payouts, try Podium Finish wagers on an athlete to win any medal (gold, silver, or bronze).
Prop bets focus on specific occurrences, like whether Ilia Malinin will attempt a quintuple jump in figure skating. Futures are long-term bets placed on outcomes like which country will win the most medals. Parlays multiple bets for higher potential payouts but require all picks to win.
Live betting lets you place wagers during events as odds update in real-time, while Each-Way betting splits your stake between winning and placing (usually top 3).
Top Sites for Winter Olympics Betting in Canada
- 1xBet- Offers extensive Winter Olympics markets and a user-friendly mobile app with live streaming of select events.
- Betwinner - Features competitive odds across all Olympic disciplines and unique prop bets for major events.
- 22Bet- Known for early lines on Olympic futures and generous promotional offers for new Winter Olympic bettors.
Countries with High Betting Odds in Milano Cortina 2026
Norway enters the 2026 Winter Games as the heavy favorite (-280) to top the medal table, continuing their Winter Olympics dominance. With strength across cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined, the Norwegians are projected to win 35+ medals. Their greatest challenge will come from the United States (+600), which has substantially improved its winter sports program in recent decades.
Germany remains the sliding sports powerhouse, expected to dominate bobsled, luge, and skeleton events. Their strength in these high-medal-count disciplines makes them a value bet at +1200 to win the overall medal count.
The ice hockey tournament sees a dramatic shift with NHL players returning, and creating rivalry between the US and Canadian teams. Canada (+130) enters as the favorite with superstar Connor McDavid leading their roster, but the USA (+190) has closed the gap with Auston Matthews and a new generation of American talent.
Individual athletes will significantly impact medal odds. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) enters as the heavy favorite in Alpine Skiing slalom events, potentially in her final Olympics. Figure skater Ilia Malinin (USA) is the overwhelming favorite (-1400) in men’s singles, with plans to attempt the first-ever quintuple jump in Olympic history.
Other athletes driving betting interest include snowboarder Chloe Kim (USA) seeking an unprecedented third consecutive halfpipe gold, speed skater Jordan Stolz (USA) targeting three gold medals at just 19 years old, and Italy’s home favorites Sofia Goggia (Alpine Skiing) and Tommaso Giacomel (Biathlon).
History of Top Contender Countries for Winter Olympics
Norway has dominated the Winter Olympics historically, leading the medal table in 2018 and 2022. Their success stems from a national emphasis on winter sports development and exceptional funding. Norway’s strength lies particularly in Nordic disciplines like cross-country skiing, where Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has become their latest superstar.
The United States has steadily improved its Winter Olympic performance since the 1990s, developing particular strength in newer sports like snowboarding and freestyle skiing. The addition of these X-Games style events has benefited American medal counts substantially.
Germany maintains its dynasty in sliding sports, having led the luge medal table in 15 of 16 Winter Olympics. Their systematic approach to technology and training in these disciplines has created generational dominance.
Canada’s ice hockey program remains their crown jewel, with the women’s team having medaled in every Olympics since the sport was added and the men’s team expected to contend for gold with NHL stars back in the fold. Players in Canada can also look for top software providers like Evolution Gaming, NeoGames, and IGT when exploring sports-themed casino games.
The Netherlands focuses almost exclusively on speed skating, where they’ve won over 80% of their all-time Winter Olympic medals. This specialized approach has made them the sport’s dominant nation.
Recent Games have seen the rise of Asian nations, particularly Japan’s strength in snowboarding and figure skating, and China’s strategic investment in sports where they previously had little presence. When funding your account to bet on these events, popular Canadian payment methods include Interac, PayPal, and MuchBetter.
FAQ
What are the official start and end dates for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are officially scheduled from February 6 to February 22, 2026. Preliminary events, such as curling and ice hockey, are set to begin as early as February 4, leading up to the opening ceremony. A total of 116 medal events across 16 sports are planned throughout this period.
Where can I find the full daily competition schedule for every Winter Olympic event in Canada?
The official Milano-Cortina 2026 calendar is readily available through the Olympics website, providing an up-to-date grid of all competitions, start times, and results, sortable by sport and date. For Canadian viewers, major broadcasters like CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet will also offer comprehensive schedules and coverage details. This includes events from curling and hockey to alpine skiing and figure skating.
Which sports happen on what days at the Winter Olympics?
Key medal events, including Alpine skiing, ice hockey finals, and figure skating, are distributed throughout the Games, with intense action scheduled from February 7 through February 22. Sports like curling and various team tournaments often commence earlier in the schedule due to their round-robin or preliminary formats.
How do I find local start times for marquee events for the Olympics (e.g., hockey or skiing) in Canada?
Official schedules typically list start times in local Italian time (CET). To find the start times relevant to your location in Canada, you'll need to convert these to your specific time zone (e.g., EST, CST, MST, PST, AST, NST). You can also check daily broadcasts via Canadian streaming services or local TV guides from networks like CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet, which will display times adjusted for your region.
What are the latest betting odds for the overall medal table at Milano-Cortina 2026 for Canadian bettors?
Historically dominant in the Winter Games, Norway is widely favoured by major Canadian sportsbooks to win both the most medals and most gold medals this year. The U.S. and Germany are also consistently ranked among strong contenders. Odds can vary between licensed betting sites in Canada, but many futures markets focus on country medal totals, offering an exciting long-term wager.
Where can I find sport-specific betting markets for the Winter Olympics in Canada?
Most major licensed Canadian sportsbooks now offer extensive betting lines for individual Olympic sports, including popular events like ice hockey, curling, skiing, and snowboarding. Markets range from outright winners and podium finishes to head-to-head match odds and various prop bets. These odds are updated regularly throughout the Games, providing dynamic betting opportunities for Canadian players.
Are there new events or sports in 2026 that affect the schedule or odds at the Winter Olympics?
Yes, ski mountaineering is set to make its Olympic debut in 2026. This new addition introduces fresh medal opportunities and expands the betting markets available for bettors, alongside traditional events such as speed skating and biathlon, adding another layer of excitement to the Games.
What’s the best strategy for live or in-play betting during the Winter Olympics?
Experienced bettors and online betting communities often recommend focusing on sports with frequent, fast-paced events, such as ice hockey or short track speed skating, for live wagering. It's crucial to closely monitor real-time conditions, including weather and athlete performance, as unexpected delays, upsets, or sudden changes can rapidly shift the odds, creating advantageous betting opportunities.
