Curling at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Curling will once again be one of the headline sports at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, set to take place in Milano–Cortina, Italy. Often described as “chess on ice,” curling combines precision, strategy, and teamwork, making it a favourite among Olympic audiences. The 2026 Games will feature curling competitions in three disciplines: men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles, bringing together the world’s best teams for a battle on the ice.

A total of 30 teams will compete in Olympic curling at Milano–Cortina 2026. Each discipline will include 10 teams. The men’s and women’s events consist of four-player teams, while the mixed doubles competition features one male and one female athlete per team. Teams qualify for the Olympics based on their performances at the World Curling Championships in 2024 and 2025, along with a final Olympic qualification tournament. This system ensures that only top-performing and consistently strong teams earn Olympic spots.

Traditional curling powerhouses such as Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, Switzerland, Norway, and the United States are expected to be among the competitors. These nations have dominated Olympic and world curling for decades. Host nation Italy will also attract significant attention, especially after its historic success in mixed doubles at the previous Olympics.

The defending Olympic champions come from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. In men’s curling, Sweden, led by skip Niklas Edin, won the gold medal after years of coming close at the Olympic level. Their victory marked a major milestone for Swedish curling. In women’s curling, Great Britain captured the gold medal, defeating Japan in the final with a disciplined and tactical performance. In mixed doubles, Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner delivered a flawless, undefeated tournament to claim gold, giving Italy its first-ever Olympic title in curling.

The competition format at the 2026 Olympics will follow the standard Olympic structure. Each event begins with a round-robin stage, where all 10 teams face one another. The top four teams then advance to the semi-finals, followed by bronze and gold medal matches. This format rewards consistency while also delivering high-pressure knockout games that often define Olympic curling.

Curling events traditionally start early in the Olympic schedule, with mixed doubles opening the competition, followed by the men’s and women’s tournaments. All matches will be held at a dedicated Olympic curling venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo, offering a world-class setting for athletes and fans alike.

As Milano–Cortina 2026 approaches, expectations are high. Defending champions will aim to protect their titles, while emerging teams hope to challenge the established giants of the sport. With intense rivalries, tactical depth, and Olympic history on the line, curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics promises drama, precision, and unforgettable moments on the ice.