The next Olympic Games on the horizon
After the conclusion of the recent Summer Games, attention already turns to the next editions of the Olympics — in winter 2026 and summer 2028.
The upcoming Winter Olympics will be the 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026. It will take place from 6 February to 22 February 2026.
Following that, the next Summer Games will be the 2028 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, United States, scheduled for 14 to 30 July 2028.
In between and beyond, there will also be ongoing preparations for future editions — but Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 are the next major milestones.
What makes Milano-Cortina 2026 special
The 2026 Winter Games stand out for several reasons:
The Games will be jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy — combining a bustling city with alpine mountain terrain.
The opening ceremony is set for the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, while the closing ceremony will take place at Verona Arena, a historic Roman amphitheater — blending sports tradition with cultural heritage.
The Games will feature 116 events across 8 sports (in 16 disciplines).
Among the interesting developments: the return or debut of disciplines — for example, the Games are expected to reflect evolving trends in winter sports programs.
Because the host region mixes urban and mountainous settings, spectators could experience both dynamic city life and scenic alpine landscapes — a special contrast that gives Milano-Cortina 2026 a unique charm.
What to expect from Los Angeles 2028
When the world turns to summer sports again in 2028, Los Angeles will play host. Anticipated highlights:
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be staged across Los Angeles and surrounding areas — using a mix of existing venues and upgraded facilities.
This will mark a return for Los Angeles as Olympic host — a city with prior Olympic history.
The 2028 Games are expected to bring together a wide array of sports, with many disciplines already staples of Summer Olympics (e.g., athletics, swimming, gymnastics, team sports). Organizers also aim to adapt to contemporary trends and attract a broad, global audience.
Given the scale of the region — and the organizational capacity of Los Angeles — the 2028 Games could offer a mixture of tradition, modernity, and global spectacle.
The larger Olympic roadmap and legacy
The schedule of host cities for upcoming Olympics reveals how the global sporting community continues to evolve:
After Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028, the next Winter Olympics are slated for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, France (1–17 February 2030).
Further ahead, the 2032 Summer Olympics will be held in Brisbane, Australia.
This rotation reflects the global ambition of the games — from Europe to North America to Oceania — giving different regions a chance to host, showcase their culture, invest in infrastructure, and leave a legacy.
The upcoming Olympics also highlight how sports, culture, environment and international cooperation intersect. With modern concerns like sustainability, equity, and global connectivity, each edition carries symbolic weight beyond athletics.
What the Olympics still stand for
Despite changing times, the Olympic Games remain more than just athletic competition. They are:
A global gathering where athletes from many nations compete, exchange cultures, and strive for excellence.
A stage for human stories — comeback stories, breakthroughs, underdogs, teamwork and unity.
A chance for host cities and countries to showcase heritage, invest in facilities, and promote sports, tourism, and international goodwill.
A platform that often evolves: new sports may be added, formats changed, reflecting social trends and emerging interests.
As we approach Milano-Cortina 2026 and look ahead to Los Angeles 2028, the Olympics offer an opportunity for renewed surprises, new champions, and renewed global attention to sport and unity.
Disciplines & athletes to watch
Cross‑Country Skiing
One of the biggest names is Johannes Høsflot Klaebo (Norway) — he recently won six gold medals across six events at the 2025 World Championships. He is widely regarded as a strong favourite to dominate in 2026. Forbes
On the women’s side, Heidi Weng (also Norway) — a veteran with multiple World Cup titles — might make a strong comeback. Forbes
Because 2026 will see men and women race equal distances for the first time in Olympic cross-country history, we can expect thrilling and competitive races. milanocortina2026.olympics.com+1
Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) — Olympic debut
Skimo makes its first appearance at the Winter Olympics in 2026, with men’s sprint, women’s sprint and a mixed relay event. milanocortina2026.olympics.com+2NBC Olympics+2
It’s a unique test of endurance, climbing skill, and skiing — promising a fresh, unpredictable dynamic. As the sport is more established in alpine-mountain countries, expect European nations (especially alpine ones) to have an advantage. Encyclopedia Britannica+1
Because this will be new to the Olympic programme, there’s potential for surprise performances and newcomers to emerge as stars.
Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined
2026 introduces a new women’s large-hill ski jump event, enhancing gender equality in this discipline. NBC Sports+1
The revamped format for men’s ski jumping — including a “super team” event — may shake up tradition and offer fresh medal opportunities. NBC Olympics+1
The linked discipline Nordic Combined (ski jumping + cross-country) will remain a test of both explosive power and endurance. milanocortina2026.olympics.com+1
Strong nations in jumping and Nordic disciplines (like Austria, Norway, Germany) are likely to perform well — but changes can open the door for upsets.
Freestyle Skiing & Snowboarding
The Games will introduce dual moguls (men’s & women’s) within freestyle skiing, adding a head-to-head elimination format that tends to generate excitement and surprises. NBC Sports+1
Snowboarding (halfpipe, slopestyle, big air, snowboard cross) as always offers high-risk, high-reward — and often appeals to younger audiences. SEL Sport & Events Logistics+1
These sports often produce breakout stars due to the combination of athleticism and creativity. Expect big-name contenders — and maybe unknowns making their mark.
Ice Hockey & Luge / Skeleton
Ice hockey remains one of the most watched team sports in the Winter Games. With many top-tier professionals projected to participate again in 2026, the quality of competition should be high.
Luge will for the first time feature a women’s doubles event, expanding medal opportunities and increasing the sport’s gender balance. milanocortina2026.olympics.com+1
Also, a mixed-team skeleton event is scheduled — combining male and female athletes for one combined team result. NBC Olympics+1
Sliding sports and team sports often deliver unpredictable drama: crashes, small margins, and upsets. Worth keeping an eye especially on countries with strong sledding traditions and ice-hockey heritage.
🌍 Which countries might dominate — predictions
Norway — Given their strong tradition in Nordic skiing and cross-country, and with athletes like Klaebo and Weng leading the team, Norway seems likely to top at least some of the medal charts.
Alpine / Alpine-mountain European nations — With the debut of ski mountaineering (skimo), nations with Alps and mountain-skiing traditions (Alps, Dolomites, etc.) may shine. Host-country edge could give particular momentum to countries like Italy.
Countries strong in freestyle/snowboarding and sliding sports — Nations with good infrastructure for freestyle skiing, snowboarding, luge, skeleton, etc., could accumulate medals across those disciplines. That includes countries from Central and Northern Europe, some North American nations, and others with strong winter-sport traditions.
Team-sport powerhouses in ice hockey — nations with well-established ice-hockey programmes and returning top-level players could boost their medal counts in team events.
Finally, because 2026 brings new events (skimo, dual moguls, women’s doubles luge, mixed-team skeleton, expanded ski jumping events, etc.), there’s a higher chance of surprises than in a “normal” Winter Games cycle. Underdog nations or lesser-known athletes might emerge as breakout stars.
More on upcoming Olympics
IOC names first three athletes from Russia, Belarus eligible for 2026 Winter Games
Praying for the sun: What to know about the flame-lighting ceremony for the Winter Olympics
LA Olympics will keep 'Intuit' on Clippers arena as part of groundbreaking venue-naming deal
Expected rain in ancient Olympia forces Milano Games torch ceremony indoors
