COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — In exactly one year, the Olympic flame will be lit in front of the winter backdrop of Italy’s second biggest city.

Feb. 6, 2026, will be the opening ceremony of the 25th Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo on NBC4. Next year’s winter games will be the first outside of Asia in more than a decade and the first in Italy since 2006.

Many star skiers, snowboarders, skaters, and more are set to compete over the two-week competition. We also will see the return of NHL players to the men’s hockey competition and American viewers can watch the most live coverage ever offered for a winter games.

Here are a few things to know about the 2026 Milan Olympics:

Athletes to watch

Mikaela Shiffrin: The winningest alpine skier in World Cup history will be 30 going to Italy and seeks redemption. Shiffrin was poised to win multiple golds at the 2022 Beijing Games but had two crashes and left without a medal.

Lindsey Vonn: The 40-year-old skiing legend said she wants to end her career at the 2026 games on the mountains of Cortina. Vonn came out of retirement last year to pursue one final push to compete in her fifth Olympics.

Ilia Malinin: America’s next figure skating star will be a favorite to claim gold next year. The 20-year-old from Virginia won the 2024 world title, three straight U.S. titles and is nicknamed “Quad God” as the first skater to land a quadruple Axel.

Amber Glenn: It’s been over two decades since an American woman has won the figure skating singles gold. Glenn will be hoping to break the streak and will enter as the 2024 and 2025 U.S. champion.

Chloe Kim: One of the best female snowboarders of all time will look to match Shaun White and win her third halfpipe gold medal. Chloe Kim burst onto the scene in 2018, defended in 2022, and can become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic golds.

Eileen Gu: The Chinese-American freestyle skier was a star in 2022 when she won two golds and a bronze as a teenager. Gu will be 22 when she goes to Italy as she attempts to become the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history.

Jordan Stolz: A new star to watch next winter is 20-year-old speedskater Jordan Stolz from Wisconsin. Stolz has won 17 titles since he began competing at 16. He has the potential to break a 16-year men’s speed skating gold medal drought for Team USA.

Erin Jackson: The 32-year-old Floridian made history in Beijing with her 500-meter speed skating gold medal, becoming the first Black American woman to win a speed skating medal. Now, Jackson will come to Milan trying to join Bonnie Blair as the only American women to win back-to-back speed skating golds.

  • LEVI, FINLAND – NOVEMBER 16: Mikaela Shiffrin of Team United States takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Slalom on November 16, 2024 in Levi, Finland. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
  • US’ Lindsey Vonn reacts after the women’s Super G event of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany on January 26, 2025. (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP) (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON/AFP via Getty Images)
  • GRENOBLE, FRANCE – DECEMBER 7: Ilia Malinin of the United States performs during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final – Grenoble at Patinoire Polesud, on December 7, 2024, in Grenoble, France. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun – International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)
  • WICHITA, KANSAS – JANUARY 24: Amber Glenn poses with the gold medal after skating in the Championship Women Free Skate during the Prevagen U.S.Figure Skating Championships at Intrust Bank Arena on January 24, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
  • ASPEN, COLORADO – JANUARY 25: Chloe Kim of the United States stands on the podium after winning the Women’s Snowboard Superpipe during Day Three of the X Games Aspen 2025 at Buttermilk Ski Resort on January 25, 2025 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
  • Gold medalist Gu Ailing of China reacts during the awarding ceremony for the women’s halfpipe final at FIS Freeski World Cup 2025 in Zhangjiakou, north China’s Hebei Province, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Luo Yuan/Xinhua via Getty Images)
  • MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 02: Jordan Stolz of the USA competes in the 500m Men 2nd Race during the ISU World Cup Speed Skating on February 02, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere – International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)
  • INZELL, GERMANY – MARCH 8: Erin Jackson of USA competing on the Women’s 500m during the ISU World Speed Skating Sprint Championships at Max Aicher Arena on March 8, 2024 in Inzell, Germany. (Photo by Andre Weening/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Hockey: NHL players are back, U.S. women seek redemption

Without question, the biggest storyline going into Milan 2026 is the return of NHL players. It will be the first time since 2014 the men’s hockey tournament includes the best players in the world and you won’t have to wait long to get a taste of the competition.

To get the puck rolling, the NHL is pausing the next two weeks of the season for a 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Team USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland will compete in a mini-tournament beginning next Wednesday. NHL stars such as Conor McDavid (Canada), Auston Matthews (USA), Nathan MacKinnon (Canada), Sebastian Aho (Finland), Victor Hedman (Sweden), and Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen Zach Werenski (USA) will likely make their Olympic debuts.

The women’s tournament will once again pit Canada and the USA for gold and the Americans are hoping for some revenge after losing in 2022. Six Ohio State women’s hockey players played at the Beijing games and Milan likely will see plenty of Buckeye representation.

  • EDMONTON, CANADA – FEBRUARY 1: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the second period of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Place on February 1, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
  • EDMONTON, CANADA – FEBRUARY 1: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in action during the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on February 1, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images)
  • DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 31: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena on January 31, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
  • SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 31: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Utah Hockey Club on January 31, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
  • UTICA, NEW YORK – APRIL 03: Andrea Braendli #20 of Switzerland takes a water break during the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship at Adirondack Bank Center on April 03, 2024 in Utica, New York. (Photo by Troy Parla/Getty Images)
  • SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 20: Jincy Dunne #19 of Team United States skates during the third period against Canada at Climate Pledge Arena on November 20, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
  • BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 08: Natalie Spooner of Canada controls the puck in the match between USA and Canada during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Indoor Stadium on February 8, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
  • BRAMPTON, ONTARIO – APRIL 06: Forward Sophie Lundin #17 of Sweden skates against Germany during the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship at CAA Centre on April 06, 2023 in Brampton, Ontario. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

New sport and events

Ski Mountaineering: This new skiing discipline combines ascending and descending on a mountain. There will be a men’s and women’s sprint race as well as a mixed relay.

Freestyle Skiing: Dual moguls: There will be 15 freestyle skiing events in Italy with the addition of a men’s and women’s dual moguls. Two skiers will race each other through the small hills and do tricks off ramps.

Luge: Women’s Doubles: For the first time, a dedicated women’s doubles luge event will be part of the Olympic program to go along with a men’s doubles event.

Ski Jumping: Women’s large hill: Participation for female ski jumpers is increasing for 2026 with the addition of an individual large hill competition. It will mark the first time a winter games has two women’s events.

Skeleton: Mixed team relay: The incredible speed of skeleton will be on display for the first-ever Olympic relay in the sport.

Notable Olympic venues

San Siro: The nearly 100-year-old stadium in Milan will host the opening ceremony. Home to both the city’s top soccer clubs — AC Milan and Internazionale — San Siro has primarily hosted soccer games, including nine World Cup matches and four European Cup finals.

Verona Arena: The ancient Verona Arena, which was completed nearly 2,000 years ago, will host the closing ceremony on Feb. 22, 2026. The 22,000-seat venue primarily hosts operas and concerts.

PalaItalia: A brand new 16,000-seat hockey arena will be built in Milan for the Olympics. The PalaItalia will be the largest indoor venue for the games and only host ice hockey matches.

Forum di Milano: Already located in Milan is the Forum di Milano, a 12,000-seat arena that will host multiple sports. Used by the AX Armani Exchange Milan basketball team, the arena will trade the hardwood for ice to host figure skating and short-track speed skating.

Olimpia delle Tofane: The crown jewel of the Cortina venues is the mountain that was first used for the 1956 games. One of the most used mountains in Europe for alpine skiing competitions, the Olimpia delle Tofane has a near 2,500-foot vertical drop.

Stelvio: Located in Bormio, a town on the northern tip of Italy, is the Stelvio mountain range. It will host alpine skiing races and the first Olympic ski mountaineering races.

  • MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: General view outside the stadium prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
  • PIAZZA BRA, VERONA, ITALY – 2020/04/09: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created with a drone.) General view shows almost deserted Verona Arena in Piazza Bra. The Italian government imposed unprecedented restrictions to halt the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, among other measures people movements are allowed only for work, for buying essential goods and for health reasons. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
  • MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 06: Construction continues on the PalaItalia – Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on October 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. PalaItalia, the facility called to host the ice hockey competitions of the 2026 Winter Olympics paradoxically does not comply with the legal requirements for the sporting discipline and will therefore have to obtain specific “exemptions” for the competitions, according to CONI (Italy’s National Olympic Committee). The arena was also “downgraded” to the “silver” level for basketball, hosting games with up to just 3,499 spectators, despite the declared capacity of the structure being 16,000. (Photo by Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images)
  • CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – OCTOBER 05: Farm animals graze along the finish line of the Tofane Alpine Centre (Olimpia delle Tofane) on October 05, 2023 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The venue will host Women’s Alpine Skiing, Para Alpine Skiing and Para Snowboarding during the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
  • BORMIO, ITALY – DECEMBER 27: General view of the ski slope arrival before the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup men’s downhill training on December 27, 2023 in Bormio, Italy. Italy with the Stelvio slope is preparing to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Olympics on NBC4, Super Gold Sunday

Milan 2026 will be the eighth winter Olympics broadcast on NBC4. Similar to the Paris summer games in 2024, NBC4, Peacock, and NBC Universal channels will offer live coverage for every event. With the six-hour time difference, events will be live in the morning and afternoon.

Feb. 8, 2026, will be a day you will not want to miss on NBC4 with another Super Gold Sunday on-tap. Like in 2022, NBC will be the exclusive home of live Olympic and Super Bowl coverage. That Sunday will be Day 2 of the Milan games which will include eight medal events and Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, California.