Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have voted to grant the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games hosting rights to Italy’s Milan-Cortina ahead of a rival bid from Stockholm- Åre.

The decision was made in Lausanne, following a lengthy bidding and consultation period and a day of presentations from the candidates.  

The result was close, with the Italian bid winning 56% of the 81 votes cast.

Sustainability, financial guarantees and public support were key issues in the campaign.

“Congratulations to Milan-Cortina,” said IOC President Thomas Bach said.

“We can look forward to outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country. The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world. The Olympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina 2026 will feature iconic venues and beautiful settings, combining the attractions of a modern European metropolis with a classic Alpine environment.”

The bidding process was the first to begin and end since the launch of “Olympic Agenda 2020”, the revised procedure set up by president Bach.

“The new Candidature Process has demonstrated the success of Olympic Agenda 2020,” he said.

“We have lowered the cost and complexity of developing Games projects, which now serve the long-term development goals of the host communities and have sustainability and legacy at their hearts. This has led to a significantly reduced organisation budget and the use of 93 per cent existing or temporary competition venues. I also want to thank Stockholm-Åre for presenting an excellent candidature and being part of the Candidature Process for the Olympic Winter Games 2026.”

Announcing the decision, the IOC highlighted Italy’s strong tradition of winter sports and world class venues, in addition to the use of “existing and temporary venues if there is no post-Games demand for new permanent facilities”.

Only one of the competition venues will be a new, permanent structure.

The IOC also noted the “unified backing of the Italian sports movement, the private sector and national, regional and city governments”.

While Stockholm- Åre’s project had the support of the government it would have been heavily reliant on private funds.

The IOC is amending the process of awarding host cities further still to make the process even more consultative, as part of "The New Norm" reforms. The fact that there were ultimately only two bids to choose from for 2026 – as was also the case for the previous bidding cycle in which the two candidates Paris and LA were each awarded 2024 and 2028 respectively – will have been a factor in bringing in these further changes.

The changes already introduced through Agenda 2020, such as increased technical services and a reduction in the required deliverables and presentations, has reduced candidature budget by 75 per cent, according to the IOC.

It also said the operating budgets proposed for 2026 are 20 per cent lower than the candidates for the previous two bidding cycles.

When the Austrian Olympic Committee abandoned the Graz 2026 Olympic campaign in early July, it came just weeks after voters in Switzerland rejected Sion’s bid in a referendum citing high costs – again raising concerns about the Olympic brand and bringing into question the IOC’s bidding procedure.

In April, the IOC was sitting pretty with a healthy field of seven candidates. But people power has now torpedoed two bids and some of the other five bidders are on shaky ground. Calgary in Canada, Erzurum in Turkey, Sapporo in Japan, Stockholm in Sweden and a possible Italian bid remain, with the IOC still to decide which of them to put through to the candidature phase in October – if they are all still standing.

Bidding issues

A series of withdrawals from the 2022 and 2024 Olympic bid contests triggered the IOC’s “Agenda 2020” revamp of its bidding procedure. But the messaging to potential Olympic cities around the globe about reducing Games costs – mainly by maximizing the use of existing and temporary facilities – is clearly still not getting through.

The demise of Graz 2026 underscored the issues. Failure to win public and political support for an Olympic project makes bidding a big financial gamble.

The Austrian Olympic Committee spelled out the problem. Despite proposing a Winter Games in line with Agenda 2020 and, latterly, the IOC’s ‘New Norm’ measures designed to further slash costs – along with a  Graz 2026 feasibility study that outlined multiple benefits for the region – the bid was halted.

“Because of the political arguments currently taking place, the ÖOC greatly regrets that there has to date been no clear political backing, nor any corresponding support from the Styrian state government – something which the ÖOC regarded as essential, right from the start,” the committee said.

“Under these circumstances, a project of this scale is not viable, and certainly not internationally justifiable.”

Graz’s defeat, eight months after Innsbruck’s 2026 campaign was derailed by a referendum, was another blow for the IOC hot on the heels of Sion’s exit.

The IOC could doubtless do with fewer referendums bringing negative headlines for the Olympic brand, but officials would prefer a bid to be sunk now rather than the middle of next year, causing even more damage.

“The IOC fully understands the decision taken by the Austrian National Olympic Committee and respects their view that they do not wish to become part of a local political dispute since the Olympic Games should always be a unifying force,” the IOC commented on the collapse of Graz 2026.

Staying alive

By this time next year, it seems unlikely there will be five bids left battling for 2026 hosting rights. While the IOC would like a European 2026 host, IOC president Thomas Bach said recently he had no problem with a third Winter Games heading to Asia after PyeongChang and Beijing.  

Sapporo, host of the 1972 Winter Olympics, is seen as a safe pair of hands if the other 2026 bidders fall by the wayside. Sapporo officials have wavered over whether to bid for the next winter edition or wait until 2030, but Bach’s remarks may persuade the city to stay in the contest.

Calgary’s 2026 campaign, on thin ice a few months ago due to political concerns, received a boost in June when the Canadian Olympic Committee voted unanimously to support the bid from the 1988 Winter Games host city.

“This represents a very important and positive next step towards Calgary’s candidature for 2026,” said Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith. “We will continue to work with all the relevant stakeholders to build momentum to ensure an inspiring and responsible Olympic bid.”

In the coming months, the bid will launch a public engagement effort to convince city residents and the wider population of the benefits. But the Olympic bid may face a referendum in November, which could scupper Calgary’s aspirations.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) is not rushing its decision on a candidate city. On 11 July, CONI’s executive board decided to submit a bid to the IOC – but it delayed the announcement on whether the city will be Milan, Turin, Cortina d’Ampezzo or a joint effort. An evaluation committee will assess the Olympic feasibility studies of the three contenders before presenting a report to CONI’s National Council. Italy’s candidate city will be chosen in August or September. The Italian government said in early July that it would support a 2026 bid under certain conditions. But political infighting may prove the bid’s undoing in the long run.

The eastern Turkish city of Erzurum is an unknown quantity. After a handful of failed attempts by Istanbul to host the Summer Olympics, it’s the country’s first push to land the winter version. Although largely unknown outside Olympic circles, the host of the 2011 World Universiade Winter Games and 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival has some traction within the Olympic movement.

Back to Europe?

Stockholm appears favourite to secure the 2026 Olympics. The
Swedish bid has joined the other cities at IOC workshops and video conferences over recent months to enhance its Olympic plans. Bid officials say they’ve received good feedback from IOC executives and experts during the dialogue phase of the bidding process.

And Stockholm has struck a deal to use the Sigulda sliding track in Latvia for bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events, addressing one of the IOC’s biggest concerns about the bid.

Despite being on a firm footing, Sweden’s national elections in September may impact Stockholm’s bid. Government backing is necessary to pursue the city’s Olympic quest.

An October decision by the IOC executive board will determine which bids enter the one-year candidature phase, which concludes with the host city vote in September 2019.