EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE WINTER GAMES

Published: 05/02/2026

The wait is over – the Winter Games are finally back. Snow, speed, spills, and seriously impressive performances: this year’s Games are shaping up to be a big one. Whether you’re a full-blown Games fan or just want to brush up on the basics before the action kicks off, you’re in the right place. From the history and sports to the athletes worth keeping an eye on at the 2026 Winter Games, we’ve got you covered – so you can follow along like a pro.

Whether you’re a huge winter sports fan or you’re searching for something new to watch this year, the Winter Games is your one-stop fix – trust us, it’s great; all the fun of the Summer Games just with ice-friendly sports and chic winter-ready outfits – what’s not to love?

We’ve put together this guide for those who are just getting into the event, those who are loyal viewers every time it graces our screens and everyone in between. If you love winter sports, you’re bound to be hooked as soon as you switch the TV on.

But first, let’s kick off with a few quick facts.

Location: this year’s Winter Games is being held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy).

Date: the event will run between the 4th and 22nd February this year.

Opening ceremony: the opening ceremony will be held on the 6th February.

Right, now let’s get into what you’re here for: the main event!

WHAT ARE THE WINTER GAMES AND WHEN DID IT START?

The Winter Games. It sounds pretty obvious as to what it is, right? It’s a sporting event where athlete come together and compete in sports that take place on snow and ice. Think of it as the cold-weather counterpart to the Summer Games, which focus on sports better suited to sunshine and warm temperatures.

The Winter Games first kicked off in 1924, when a single week was dedicated to winter sports. Just one year later, it was decided that there’d be a completely separate cycle devoted to the winter games – great news for sports fans like us!

The Winter Games take place every four years, alternating with the summer version – so every two years there’s some form of Games to indulge in.

What Are The Main Sports In The Winter Games?

There are plenty of exciting sports in the Winter Games to get your competitive spirit fired up (16 to be exact). But, you may hear the word ‘discipline’ thrown around a few times when it comes to talking about the Games. What’s a discipline, we hear you ask? That just means sub-categories of a sport. So, for example, skating is a huge sport within the games, and figure skating and speed skating are two disciplines of this. Essentially, it’s just a more specific type of the sport.

Here’s a list of the sports you can watch:

• Alpine skiing: skiing downhill as fast as possible on a mountain setting
• Freestyle skiing: exhilarating and fun, people perform tricks while skiing
• Ski jumping: this involves skiing down a ramp and jumping off at the end, with the aim of landing as far away from the starting point as possible
• Ski mountaineering: this sport combines climbing uphill and skiing downhill
• Cross-country skiing: using tracks, skiers will try to beat the clock (usually instead of each other) by skiing over smooth terrain
• Biathlon: a combination of iconic cross-country skiing and rifle shooting
• Bobsleigh: fast-paced, this sport uses a sled to navigate around a track, usually with one, two or four people involved
• Curling: teams slide granite stones across ice and try and hit a target
• Figure skating: normally performed solo or as a pair, figure skating involves skating on ice and performing beautifully executed tricks and footwork
• Ice hockey: two teams battle it out to win the overall, using a puck and hockey sticks
• Nordic combined: cross-country skiing and ski jumping combined
• Short track speed skating: athletes will compete against each other in rounds, so those who are quickest will generally progress to the next round. This is done on a smaller, oval track and showcases lightning speeds
• Luge: a high-speed thrill, luge sees athletes lying face-up on a sled and speeding down a track made of ice
• Skeleton: similar to luge, the athlete will hurtle down an ice track, but instead of face-up, like luge, they’re face-down
• Snowboard: at the 2026 games, there are five separate disciplines within the snowboarding sport, with three being judged technically and two being based on speed
• Speed skating: athletes will race to try and get the best time. There’s one round and once everyone has skated, whoever has the best time is crowned the winner

That's a lot, isn’t it? But luckily for us, and hopefully you, that’s plenty to keep us occupied and cheering on for our top athletes. It’s worth noting that there are a few newcomer sports in this list that you might want to keep your eye on – who knows, it could become your next favourite!

Ski mountaineering makes its first ever appearance at the 2026 Winter Games, bringing a new sport to the roster as well as a whole host of new winter sports stars to watch. As well, there’s a handful of other events making their debuts this year, such as the women’s doubles luge, mixed team skeleton discipline, just to name a couple. What a way to celebrate the 25th edition of the games!

WHO’S TO WATCH FROM TEAM GB AT THE WINTER GAMES 2026?

It’s without a doubt that the winter games are full of recognised talent, as well as shiny new stars, too. But who should you be rooting for this year?

• Mia Brookes is a contender to watch this year, especially with her past accolades - in 2023, she won gold at the ‘slopestyle’ at just 16 years old. She’s aiming high this year and hoping for more medals – we’re keeping all of our fingers crossed for her
• Matt Weston is a skeleton pro, along with his teammate Marcus Wyatt, and both have the potential to see medals at this year’s Winter Games, having shown that while they’re great alone, they’re also dynamite as a duo
• Hoping for a podium spot this year, Kirsty Muir takes to the snow in freestyle skiing after injury a couple of years ago. She’s only 21 but her age doesn’t mean she should be counted out – she’s already been victorious in previous events and is one to watch this year

Global Talent

The athletes bring their signature talents to the snow and ice, with fan-favourites being from all over the world. There are many to keep your eye on if you’re craving some great TV and even greater skill, but here’s just a few to watch out for that aren’t on Team GB.

• Connor McDavid, ice hockey legend. He’ll be making his debut this Winter Games playing for Canada and his speed and skill is definitely worth a watch
• Snowboarding champ Chloe Kim will be returning for this year’s games and having previously won gold. She’s someone to watch if you’re hungry for some quality snowboarding
• With a rich history in cross-country skiing, Johannes H∅sflot Klæbo is already an Olympic champion and he’s not yet reached 30 years old. Representing Norway, he’s looking to score more accolades this year

Watching inspiring talent can sometimes encourage you to give different sports a go – trust us, we’re always looking for the next sporty fix we can sink our teeth into – so if you watch the Winter Games and decide to join a new club or try your hand at something new, we have what you need! Explore plenty of products to help you get stuck in, from ski gear to skates to ice hockey equipment, ideal for those just starting out or if you’re looking to pick up an old hobby after watching some Winter Games inspo.

WINTER GAMES MASCOTS

Now we’ve established the sports and the stars, let’s get into the medals and the mascots.

Everyone loves a mascot; they add that extra fun to an event and they can encourage kids to get involved, too. The Winter Games mascots this year are two stoats, Tina and Milo. Both names take inspiration from the host cities, with Tina originating from Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milo from, of course, Milano.

The sports are what make the Games, bringing together athletes from around the globe to showcase extraordinary talent, but we can’t deny that mascots bring that lighthearted element that instantly makes you think of the Games.

The Winter Games bring us all the ice-capped and snow-dusted sports we love. Whether you’re a ski enthusiast, love the idea of a bobsleigh or you’re curious to learn more about curling, there’s plenty to indulge in this February. So grab your popcorn and settle down on the sofa and get ready for a month of sport.