The 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina bring almost 660 athletes from 50 countries together to contest 79 medals, setting the scene for a compact programme across six sports and a high-profile opening ceremony.
What is the current state of play?
The competition opened with wheelchair curling play before the formal opening ceremony, and the calendar mixes seasoned campaigners with newcomers across six sports: Para-Alpine skiing, Para-biathlon, Para-cross-country skiing, Para-ice hockey, Para-snowboard and wheelchair curling. Key facts to track:
- Scale: almost 660 athletes from 50 countries competing for 79 medals.
- Sports on the programme: Para-Alpine skiing, Para-biathlon, Para-cross-country skiing, Para-ice hockey, Para-snowboard, wheelchair curling.
- Team notes: Great Britain fields 25 athletes, described as a mix of seasoned campaigners and talented newcomers.
- Wheelchair curling timeline: competition began ahead of the opening ceremony; mixed doubles pair Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean (“Team JJ”) played the United States at 08: 05 in the fourth of their seven round-robin matches, following a first win against Latvia the previous evening.
- United States mixed doubles: Laura Dwyer and Steve Emt finished ninth at the last World Championships.
- Background on athletes: Laura Dwyer sustained a spinal cord injury in May 2012 and began wheelchair curling in 2019, having been an alternate at the 2022 Games in Beijing before teaming with Steve Emt two years ago. Steve Emt took up wheelchair curling in 2013, is competing in his third Games after appearances in 2018 and 2022, and travels as a public speaker on the dangers of drinking and driving.
- Historical context in Italy: Italy last staged the Winter Paralympics in 2006, when Turin hosted 474 athletes from 38 countries across 58 medal events in five sports; wheelchair curling made its debut that year with Great Britain winning silver, and Mexico and Mongolia competed for the first time.
What Happens at the 2026 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony and cultural programme?
The opening ceremony is scheduled at the Verona Arena with a 19: 00 start, pausing sporting action for an evening designed to blend spectacle, culture and hospitality while showcasing Italy’s monuments and the talent of its people. The programme lists performing acts that include Stewart Copeland, Italian singer Mimi Caruso and DJ Miky Bionic, noted as the first DJ in the world to perform with an advanced bionic hand. Wheelchair curling competition commenced earlier in the week on Wednesday, with the opening ceremony taking place on Friday evening.
What comes next and what should viewers keep an eye on?
Follow the day-by-day schedule for matchups in wheelchair curling, mixed doubles clashes such as Team JJ against the United States, and medal runs across six sports. The mixture of experienced athletes and newcomers — exemplified by Great Britain’s 25-strong team and multi-Games competitors — will shape narratives throughout the programme. The Verona Arena ceremony will pause the sporting calendar and present a cultural showcase that ties the competition to Italy’s broader staging legacy, recalling the Turin Games in 2006 and the sports that debuted or expanded there.
For those tracking competitors and moments of broader significance, the tournament offers a concentrated view of classification, competition and public engagement within a schedule that began with wheelchair curling and moves into a full slate of medal events. Keep the day-by-day guide close for where to watch key matches and which athletes are breaking through as the event progresses. 2026 Winter Paralympics
