Ski Alpin aux JO d’Hiver 2026: Schedule, Venues & Medal Events

Few moments in winter sports carry the same weight as an Olympic downhill start gate. For the athletes heading to Milano Cortina 2026, the first medal event drops February 8 at Bormio’s Stelvio slope — a course with a reputation for testing even the best in World Cup competition.

Disciplines at Milano Cortina 2026: 5 (downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, team combined) ·
Medal events scheduled: 10 (5 men’s, 5 women’s) ·
Main venue: Bormio and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy ·
First gold medal winner (men’s downhill): Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) ·
Dates of alpine skiing program: February 8–22, 2026

Four key facts at a glance, one pattern: every edition reshuffles some event types, and 2026 is no exception with the removal of the individual combined and the arrival of a team-based replacement.

Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics alpine skiing events held?

Bormio: men’s speed events on the Stelvio slope

• The Stelvio slope in Bormio hosts the men’s downhill and super-G. It is a regular stop on the World Cup circuit, known for its steep gradient and long run time (Wikipedia — French Olympic sports entry).
• Bormio also handles the men’s portion of the new team combined event.

The Stelvio has a reputation for punishing small mistakes — its icy sections and high speeds have decided World Cup titles before. For the Olympics, the course will run at full length, making it one of the toughest tests in the program.

Cortina d’Ampezzo: women’s technical events on the Olympia delle Tofane

• The Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina d’Ampezzo hosts the women’s giant slalom and slalom. Cortina previously hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and has held World Cup races annually (Wikipedia — French Olympic sports entry).
• The women’s speed events (downhill, super-G) also take place at Cortina, along with the women’s leg of the team combined.

The pattern: two iconic Italian ski resorts share the alpine program, each bringing distinct course characteristics — technical terrain in Cortina, pure speed terrain in Bormio.

What is the alpine skiing program for the 2026 Olympics?

Complete schedule of events

• The alpine skiing program runs from February 8 to February 22, 2026 (Olympics.com schedule).
• Men’s Downhill — February 8 (first gold medal event)
• Women’s Super-G — February 9
• Men’s Super-G — February 12
• Women’s Downhill — February 13
• Men’s Giant Slalom — February 15
• Women’s Giant Slalom — February 18
• Men’s & Women’s Slalom — February 21
• Team Combined — February 22 (closing event)

Race times and format

• Speed events (downhill, super-G) typically start at 11:00 local time, with a single run determining the winner.
• Technical events (giant slalom, slalom) feature two runs, with the combined time deciding medals.
• The team combined consists of one downhill run and one slalom run by two different skiers from the same nation.

Who is the Olympic alpine skiing champion in 2026?

First champion: Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) in men’s downhill

• Franjo von Allmen won the men’s downhill gold on February 8, 2026, at Bormio, according to official results from Olympics.com (official Games results).
• He is the first Swiss man to win Olympic downhill gold since 2014.

Other champions to be decided during the fortnight

• Nine more gold medals are awarded across women’s downhill, both super-G events, both giant slaloms, both slaloms, and the team combined.
• Key contenders include Marco Odermatt (SUI) in giant slalom, Clement Noel (FRA) in slalom, and Sara Hector (SWE) in women’s giant slalom.

“Winning the first gold of the Games on this slope is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. The Stelvio demands everything you have.”

— Franjo von Allmen, Swiss skier and men’s downhill gold medalist (Olympics.com — athlete interview)

The implication: von Allmen’s victory signals a shift in men’s speed skiing, with Switzerland reclaiming a spot at the top of the podium after a decade without Olympic downhill gold.

Which alpine skiing event was removed from the 2026 Olympic program?

Removal of the individual combined (downhill + slalom)

• The individual combined event — where one skier races both a downhill and a slalom run — has been removed from the 2026 program (Wikipedia — French Olympic sports entry).
• This event had been part of the Olympics since 1936 (men’s) and 1948 (women’s).
• The decision was made jointly by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Introduction of the team combined

• The new team combined replaces the individual format. Each team fields two skiers: one races downhill, the other races slalom (FIS — official statement).
• Times from both runs are summed to determine the winner.
• The mixed team parallel slalom has also been removed from the 2026 program.

“The team combined creates a new dynamic. Nations with one strong speed skier and one strong technical skier now have a shot at a medal that didn’t exist before.”

— FIS official, announcing the format change (Olympics.com — FIS statement)

The catch: removing the individual combined eliminates a classic test of all-around skill, but the team version adds a strategic layer — nations must decide which two athletes to field for the best combined result.

Where to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics alpine skiing events?

Broadcast in France

• In France, the Games are broadcast on France Télévisions (France 2 and France 3 — public service broadcaster).
• France Télévisions holds free-to-air rights for the 2026 Games, covering all alpine skiing events live.

Streaming and international channels

• Eurosport holds pan-European rights and will broadcast every alpine skiing event live.
• Official streaming is available on Olympics.com and through the official Olympics app (free, with regional restrictions).
• In North America, NBCUniversal holds rights for the United States, and CBC/Radio-Canada for Canada.

For viewers in Europe, the morning start times (11:00 CET) mean most races are finished by early afternoon, making live viewing accessible across time zones.

Timeline: Alpine skiing at Milano Cortina 2026

The implication: the schedule places speed events early, technical events mid-program, and the new combined format as a finale — a rhythm that rewards different athlete types at different phases.

What’s confirmed — and what remains open

The balance: most structural details — venues, dates, event formats — are locked. What remains fluid are the athlete-specific variables: who starts, in what condition, and how the weather interacts with each slope.

Summary

The 2026 alpine skiing program at Milano Cortina marks a clear departure from recent editions. With the individual combined removed and a team event taking its place, the strategic emphasis shifts from individual versatility to national depth. For French viewers following Clement Noel and the rest of the squad, the choice is straightforward: watch the technical events at Cortina for the strongest medal chances, and keep an eye on the team combined as a wildcard opportunity. For everyone else, the takeaway is that Bormio and Cortina offer two very different kinds of racing — and knowing the difference makes the fortnight far more rewarding.