The 2026 Winter Olympics are making history as the first games to feature two host cities in their official title—Milan and Cortina. On Tuesday, organizers unveiled the striking medals for the upcoming Winter Games and Paralympics at a ceremony along Venice’s iconic Grand Canal.
The medals are a visual representation of “two halves coming together,” capturing the unique collaboration between the two Italian cities. Described as “a graphic abstraction capturing the union of two halves in perpetual motion,” the design symbolizes unity and shared purpose.
One side of the medal features the Olympic rings, while the other displays the official logos of the games. Each medal will also be engraved with the specific event it represents, adding a personal touch for the athletes who receive them.
The Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22, followed by the Winter Paralympics from March 6 to 15. A total of 1,146 medals will be awarded across 195 events between the two games.
The competitions will be spread across northern Italy, with ice sports hosted in Milan and snow sports in several mountain clusters, including Cortina d’Ampezzo. Venice, the capital of the Veneto region that encompasses Cortina, played host to the unveiling, highlighting the widespread regional involvement in the games.
