Can we say it? The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have officially begun. With the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Milan, the atmosphere has really heated up. With pop-ups, exhibitions, and exclusive events, tourists and Milanese alike can dive into the heart of the Games even without a ticket to the Opening Ceremony or a competition. Yes, the competitions are expensive, but there are many free (or almost free) experiences that are perfect for weekends or days off. Here are the ones in Milan that you can’t miss in the coming weeks!
Olympic Exhibitions
On the occasion of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, many free exhibitions on sport and physical health have arrived in the city. Among these, we recommend:
The Impossible Gym: An immersiveexperience that combines sport and awareness, transforming an ‘impossible’ gym, with equipment modified to not work, into a journey to understand the invisible obstacles of the body’s biological resistance to weight loss. – via Vincenzo Capelli, 5
White Out. The Future of Winter Sports: this is an exhibition at the Triennale Milano dedicated to the present and future of winter sports in a world marked by the climate crisis, seen through the language of design, architecture, and technology.
Italy on Snow: The exhibition, on display at Castello Sforzesco, reflects on how winter sports and mountains have become a symbol of sports tourism in Italy. It uses illustrated magazines and advertisements to show the origins and evolution of these phenomena, linking them to changes in fashion and accessories.
Try your hand at winter sports
What if, in addition to watching the athletes, you tried the Winter Olympic sports yourself? There are several places in the city where you can feel like a real Olympic athlete, at least for a moment, and trying them out is free!
Milano Cortina Sport Village in Duomo: from February 6 to February 22, you can try sports such as curling or ice hockey for free, with expert instructors to guide you through the movements.
Ice skating at Palazzo Lombardia: on February 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., you can skate for free at the city’s largest indoor skating rink. Last admission at 7:30 p.m.
Fan Village in Piazza Cannone: open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., here you can watch the Olympic competitions live, meet the athletes, and even try some winter sports in the company of mascots Tina and Milo.
My home is also your home
The Olympics also mean cultural immersion. For this event, many Olympic Committee Houses are opening their doors to the public to watch the competitions together or participate in exclusive events. Here are some that you can enter by reservation:
- Brazil – Via Agostino Betani, 2
- China – Villa Clerici
- Italy – Viale Alemagna, 6
- Netherlands – Superstudio Events
- Slovakia – Meravigli Gallery
- Switzerland – Swiss Center
- USA – Ralph Lauren Building
“We Are The Champions”… By candlelight
Listening to Queen’s We Are The Champions by the light of thousands of candles? Truly amazing. This weekend, Casa Cardinale Ildefonso Schuster will host an intimate and engaging concert dedicated to Queen. In the historic residence, a string quartet will reinterpret the famous anthem to champions in a classical key, as well as other iconic melodies by the band such as The Show Must Go On, Another One Bites The Dust, and We Will Rock You. The Candlelight tribute will be held on Sunday, February 8, at 9:45 p.m.
Go to the Olympic Cauldron
In recent weeks, we have been excitedly following the journey of the Olympic Flame: from Snoop Dogg to the actors of the new seriesHeated Rivalry, to Nicoletta Manni…but from February 6, its journey stops in Milan, at least for a while.At the Arco della Pace, from February 7, at the stroke of every hour from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., there will be a spectacular music and light show, lasting about 5 minutes and completely free of charge.