MILAN (AP) — Milan’s San Siro stadium is set for a final hurrah. The opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will likely be the last event of major global significance held at the iconic stadium before it is torn down in the next few years.

Get ready to see the world's best athletes go head-to-head in their quest for the gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic venues spread across Northern Italy. From the city lights of Milan to the snowy peaks of the Dolomites,

There are 206 National Olympic Committees worldwide, which are devised by the IOC and the International Sport Federation. These two organizations are the sole authorities who come together to recognize NOCs for the official Summer and Winter Games.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is in Milan leading U.S. President Donald Trump’s delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Follow NBC News live updates for the latest on the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where hockey and snowboarding events will open ahead of the opening ceremony.

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics’ early events continued on day -1 ahead of Friday's opening ceremony. After opening the games on day -2 as the first event to start competitive play, curling continued with wins for the U.

O’Brien, like many others, did most of her early career training at Palisades Tahoe. Other Sierra-based athletes include Tahoe City resident and three-time Olympian Bryce Bennett, who will be competing in speed events as a new dad, and two-time Olympians and close friends Keely Cashman, from Strawberry, and AJ Hurt, from Carnelian Bay.

Here's a full list of the countries in the 2026 Olympics.