Ski Mountaineering to Debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Ski mountaineering will feature for the first time in the Winter Olympics in 2026, in Italy’s Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, following unanimous approval by the International Olympic Committee yesterday.

The sport, which combines ascents and descents of mountain trails on or while carrying skis, will have five events at the Olympics, according to Olympics.com.

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The events will be sprints, individuals, and one mixed-gender relay and will feature 48 athletes (24 women and 24 men).

The IOC cited the sport’s popularity in hosts Italy and its rapid expansion in the United States and Canada.

 The inclusion of ski mountaineering brings the number of winter sports to eight.