At first thought, it might seem counterintuitive: the 2026 Winter Olympics are unfolding in northern Italy, the world’s media has descended on the Dolomites, and Cortina d’Ampezzo is—once again—in the global spotlight. Surely that means crowds, chaos, and sky-high prices across the entire region?
In reality, the opposite is happening.
Thanks to what many hoteliers are calling the “Olympic effect,” bookings in large parts of the Dolomiti Superski area are noticeably lower than in a typical February. The assumption that the mountains are overrun has kept many visitors away. The result? Quiet lift lines, empty pistes, and a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s largest ski areas at its most serene.
The “Olympic Effect:” A Surprising Slowdown
Usually, the “Olympic Effect” brings an economic boost to Olympic hosts. Thanks to investments in infrastructure, host cities will see a long-term increase in trade and property prices, especially in previously overlooked areas. However, host cities that are existing tourism hotspots, like Paris, will often feel an immediate drop in tourism numbers as visitors elect to stay away due to an anticipated increase in prices and overcrowding. Paris felt this effect in 2024, when popular tourist hotspots like the Louvre saw significant drops in visitors. The same is currently being felt in the Dolomites, as visitors who might normally book a ski holiday to the region during peak season postpone their trips, assuming accommodation will be scarce and slopes overcrowded.
- Related: Dolomiti Superski, Italy, Trip Report: A Week of Super Skiing, Super Mountains & Super Food
While Cortina hosts events and sees an influx of media, athletes, and fans, much of the broader Dolomiti Superski domain feels unusually calm. According to Diego Clara, Head of Media and Public Relations at Dolomiti Superski, bookings in hotels in Val Gardena, Alta Badia, and Val di Fassa, are down year-on-year. The fear of overcrowding has brought something almost unheard of in European ski resorts in February: space. No queues snaking out of lift stations. No crowded bottlenecks on the Sella Ronda. Just perfectly groomed corduroy and room to carve.
A Matter of Geography
Part of the misconception stems from a misunderstanding of the Dolomites’ geography. Dolomiti Superski is not one compact bowl centered around Cortina. It is a vast network of 12 interconnected (and in some cases semi-connected) ski areas spanning multiple provinces and valleys.
Cortina d’Ampezzo sits in the Veneto region, northeast of the Sella massif. By contrast, the heart of the Dolomiti Superski experience—the Sella Ronda circuit—links Val Gardena (South Tyrol), Alta Badia, Arabba, and Val di Fassa (Trentino) in a sweeping 40-kilometer loop around the Sella group.
On a map, these areas are clearly distinct. On skis, they feel even more so. Culturally, you even have a language change between Val Garden (or Gröden as it is known with the native German speakers of the region) and Val di Fassa.
Closures or event-related adjustments in Cortina have no operational impact on the Sella Ronda network. Cortina is not directly connected to the famous Sella Ronda. In fact, in order to reach the Sella Ronda from Cortina, you need to take a bus. So while all these resorts are part of Dolomiti Superski, they are not all interconnected. It is a bit like saying you won’t go to Vail because there is an event in Aspen.
You can spend an entire week skiing between Colfosco, Corvara, Selva, Canazei, and Arabba without ever going near an Olympic venue. Having just spent a week in the Dolomites I can assure you, there is no impact on the other ski resorts that are part of the Dolomiti Superski network. The lift systems, pistes, and infrastructure operate independently, and it is even possible for skiers to just buy resort passes for just Alta Badia or Val Gardena (if you don’t have an IKON pass and need to buy a day pass). In other words: what happens in Cortina stays in Cortina.
Size Equals Freedom
Scale is the Dolomiti Superski’s greatest luxury. With roughly 1,200 kilometers of slopes and nearly 500 lifts, it is the largest lift-served ski areas in the world. However, it is key to remember that this ski area is not fully interconnected. The Sella Ronda area, which is interconnected, makes up about 353 kilometers, giving you plenty of area to explore without ever skiing the same run twice.
So if you have been planning on seeing the Dolomites but the Olympics have been keeping you away, think again. The Sella Ronda area is not impacted by the Winter Games yet there still is a unique energy in the air. While the Olympics unfold nearby, the Dolomites feel alive with pride—but not overwhelmed. Local restaurants buzz in the evenings, conversations revolve around race results, and televisions replay medal runs over plates of speck knödel and cacio e pepe pasta. You can get all the excitement without any of the congestion.
For skiers who value space, scenery, and seamless exploration, this may be the best February ever to explore the famous Dolomites. SnowBrains recommends flying into Munich or even Zurich to avoid getting caught up in Olympic traffic (or pricing) in Milan. Munich is less than 4 hours by car while Zurich is just shy of 5 hours to Val Gardena. Alternatively, you can also fly directly into Bozen/Bolzano—45 minutes from Val Gardena—from European airports such as Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, London, Antwerp, Warsaw, and Copenhagen.
The Games may be centered in Cortina—but the magic of the Dolomiti Superski stretches far beyond it. And right now, it might just be at its best.
Dolomiti Superski is on the IKON pass. IKON pass holders get seven conseuctive days while IKON BASE pass holders get five consecutive days at Dolomiti Superski. Please note, helmets are mandatory in Italy as of this season and guests need a valid liability insurance.
