Dec 25, 2025 – South Korea prepares for a packed 2026 calendar that includes the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics, the World Baseball Classic, the expanded 48‑team FIFA World Cup, and the Asian Games in Nagoya, and it sets a top‑10 medal finish goal for the Winter Games after a 14th‑place finish in Beijing 2022[10].

Jan 7, 2026 – The Jincheon National Training Center opens in North Chungcheong Province, and KSOC president Ryu Seung‑min declares 2026 “the year of K‑sports,” pledging increased budget, equipment and medical support for athletes[9].

Jan 7, 2026 – U.S. officials announce that the final Olympic ski‑jumping roster will be released by Jan 20, 2026, as the program adds a women’s large‑hill event and replaces the men’s team event with a super‑team format, marking another step toward gender balance[8].

Jan 20, 2026 – (Expected) The United States publishes its ski‑jumping team for Milan‑Cortina, finalizing the athletes who will compete under the new event structure[8].

Jan 22, 2026 – The Games schedule outlines key milestones: opening ceremony on Feb 6, first gold medals on Feb 7, women’s Alpine downhill gold on Feb 8, men’s figure‑skating gold on Feb 13, women’s Alpine slalom gold on Feb 18, women’s figure‑skating and ice‑hockey golds on Feb 19, and the closing ceremony with men’s ice‑hockey gold on Feb 22[3].

Jan 26, 2026 – Team USA releases a record‑size roster of 232 athletes, the largest U.S. winter delegation ever, featuring 98 returning Olympians and 18 champions; selections follow world‑circuit standings and each sport’s governing bodies, and alternates stand by to replace injured or ineligible competitors[4][6].

Jan 26, 2026 – Organizers confirm the opening ceremony will occur on Feb 6 in Milan and Cortina, with more than 90 nations competing for a record 195 medals across 16 sports, including the debut of ski mountaineering and the highest ever proportion of women athletes[5][7].

Jan 31, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina program features 116 medal events, three of them ski mountaineering, and UK Sport sets a GB target of four to eight medals, with Chef de Mission Eve Muirhead saying the team has “an opportunity to get the most we ever have”[1].

Jan 31, 2026 – Former Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry becomes the first female IOC president, describing the multi‑city, sustainability‑focused model as “the new normal” for future Games[1].

Jan 31, 2026 – NHL‑contracted players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2018, bolstering the United States’ quest for a men’s gold, while Italy sets a minimum 19‑medal target despite injuries to flag‑bearer Federica Brignone and other stars[1].

Feb 2, 2026 – Norway tops the all‑time Winter Olympic medal table with 405 total medals and 148 golds, while the United States holds second place with 330 medals, highlighted by figure‑skater Ilia Malinin, the only athlete to land a quadruple axel in competition[2].

Feb 2, 2026 – The former Soviet Union’s historic 194 Winter Olympic medals remain counted separately from Russia and other successor states, underscoring the legacy of Cold‑War era sport[2].

Feb 2, 2026 – President Donald Trump names Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha to lead the U.S. delegation, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Olympians, while hundreds protest the deployment of U.S. ICE agents in Milan[2].

Feb 6, 2026 – The opening ceremony launches the 25th Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, marking the first Games overseen by a female IOC president and the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics to date[1][5].

Feb 7, 2026 – The first Olympic gold medals are awarded, kicking off a two‑week competition that will see athletes vie for a record 195 medals across classic and new events such as ski mountaineering and mixed‑team skeleton[3].

Feb 8, 2026 – Women claim the Alpine downhill gold, contributing to a Winter Games‑record 53.4 % of events featuring female athletes, the highest proportion ever recorded[1].

Feb 13, 2026 – The men’s figure‑skating gold is decided, with the U.S. team led by Ilia Malinin aiming to capitalize on his historic quadruple axel performance[2].

Feb 18, 2026 – Women win the Alpine slalom gold, further highlighting the gender‑balanced program that includes 50 women‑only events and 12 mixed events[1].

Feb 19, 2026 – Women’s figure‑skating and women’s ice‑hockey gold medals are awarded, underscoring the expanded opportunities for female athletes in the 2026 program[3].

Feb 22, 2026 – The Games close in Verona with the men’s ice‑hockey gold and the closing ceremony, concluding a historic edition that features the return of NHL players, the debut of ski mountaineering, and the highest female participation ever[3].