The Winter Paralympics have come a long way since they began 50 years ago. This year’s Games, the 14th iteration of the Winter Paralympics, will establish new records for the number of athletes, events, overall medals, and participating nations. They’ll also likely be the most-watched Winter Paralympics in history, with wall-to-wall television coverage in the US and worldwide. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the upcoming Games.
What are the dates of the 2026 Winter Paralympics?
The Opening Ceremonies will be held on Friday, March 6. Competition starts on Saturday, March 7 and concludes on Sunday, March 15.
Where are the Games being held?
Events will take place in four communities across northern Italy: Milan, Verona, Tesero, and Cortina. Verona is hosting Opening and Closing Ceremonies; the sled hockey tournament will take place in Milan; cross-country skiing and biathlon events will be staged in Tesero; and the mountain village of Cortina d’Ampezzo will host alpine skiing, snowboarding, and wheelchair curling.
How many sports are featured in the Winter Paralympics?
Medals will be awarded in 79 events spread across six sports: sled hockey, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, biathlon, snowboarding, and wheelchair curling. A new medal event, mixed-doubles wheelchair curling, will be making its debut this year.
How many athletes are participating?
The 2026 Winter Games will be the biggest ever, with roughly 660 competitors representing 50-plus nations. By comparison, the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing included just 564 athletes from 46 nations.
How many Americans will be competing this year?
As of late December, the United States had been allocated 70 slots at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. That’s a slight increase over 2022, when the US team numbered 65 athletes, and the second-largest Winter Paralympics roster ever, topped only by the 2014 contingent (74). Here’s the breakdown by sport:
- > Alpine skiing: 21
- > Sled hockey: 17
- > Snowboarding: 14
- > Nordic skiing/biathlon: 11*
- > Wheelchair Curling: 7
*Allocations in Nordic skiing/biathlon won’t be finalized until after Amplitude goes to press.
Where can I watch the Winter Games?
NBC Universal holds US broadcast rights for the Paralympics. The broadcaster will provide hundreds of hours of live programming through its over-the-air, cable, and streaming channels. Highlights include:
- > 250+ hours of live streaming coverage on Peacock, with events across all six sports.
- > 80+ hours of cable TV coverage on USA Network and CNBC.
- > 8 hours of coverage on the flagship NBC network, including live coverage of the sled hockey gold medal game on Sunday, March 15.
How can I get more information?
Visit Amplitude’s Winter Paralympics microsite at livingwithamplitude.com. Before the Games begin, you can find short bios of all 70 athletes, Q+A interviews, special features, and explainer articles. Once the Games begin, we’ll offer daily competition updates and a running tally of US medal winners.
