The start of Milano-Cortina 2026, the 25th edition of the Olympic Winter Games, is just around the corner. The event will be officially held from February 6 to 22, 2026, with competitions starting from February 4, according to the Olympic program schedule.
But before Italy returns to the center of world sport, it is worth looking back: the history of the Olympic Winter Games began in 1924, in Chamonix (France), with the first major international event that today is recognized as the inaugural edition. Since then, the Games have toured Europe, North America and Asia, becoming one of the most watched events in the world. In total, 10 countries have hosted the Games at least once, and the absolute leader is the United States, which has hosted the Games four times, a figure that no other country has equaled.
First historical sites (1924-1936)
Chamonix 1924 (France): inaugural edition, with 16 countries and the first ever champion in a winter event.
St. Moritz 1928 (Switzerland): 25 nations participated and the Games were held for the first time in a different country from that of that year’s Summer Olympics.
Lake Placid 1932 (USA) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 (Germany): consolidated the modern format, with more countries and greater international impact.
Global expansion (1948-1976)
After the break for World War II, the Winter Olympics returned with a vengeance:
St. Moritz 1948 (Switzerland)
Oslo 1952 (Norway)
Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 (Italy): first hosted by Italy, and decades later will be a central part of Milano-Cortina 2026.
In the 1960s and 1970s came key developments such as new disciplines, more modern broadcasts and greater diversity of countries, with venues such as:
Squaw Valley 1960 (USA)
Innsbruck 1964 and 1976 (Austria)
Grenoble 1968 (France)
Sapporo 1972 (Japan): it was the first edition held in Asia, marking a historic moment.
Ten countries have hosted the event at least once
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Modern era and records (1980-2022)
In recent times, the Winter Olympics came to iconic venues such as:
Calgary 1988 (Canada)
Albertville 1992 (France)
Lillehammer 1994 (Norway)
Nagano 1998 (Japan)
Salt Lake City 2002 (USA)
Turin 2006 (Italy)
Vancouver 2010 (Canada)
Sochi 2014 (Russia)
PyeongChang 2018 (South Korea): 92 countries participated, a record number for a Winter Olympic Games.
Beijing 2022 (China): became the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
With Milano-Cortina 2026, Italy will once again experience a historic event.
And for U.S. Hispanics, following this edition is also a perfect opportunity to understand the Olympic legacy… and enjoy each competition with more context.
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