The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games run from 6 - 22 February, with around 2,900 athletes from more than 90 nations competing for 116 gold medals across 16 disciplines.
The Games are conveniently spread out in locations across northern Italy – from indoor arenas in Milan to the alpine venues of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, Bormio and Anterselva.
Which country will collect the most Winter Olympic Gold medals?
Norway (3/5)
Norway are the go to nation when it comes to winter sports and they have always had a dominant squad of athletes coming into nearly every single Winter Olympics competition down the decades.
Their strength in the Nordic events tends to be unrivalled, and it is predicted that Norway could land over 20 gold medals alone in this discipline.
Biathlon star Johannes Thingnes Bø, who will retire following these Games, and cross-country competitor Johannes Høsflot Klæbo are Norwegians to look out for in these 2026 Games.
USA (9/2)
The Americans have plenty of hopefuls to root for at Milan-Cortina Games, making up a strong team that features athletes capable of making the podium in a large number of events. They have live contenders in figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, speed skating and Alpine skiing.
Whether the U.S. can improve enough to move up from their third-place in the medal count in Beijing to challenge the Norwegians is highly improbable, but not totally impossible.
Jordan Stolz (Speed Skating) has the potential to wins multiple medals, while Mikaela Shiffrin can slalom away to more victories on the slopes.
Germany (5/1)
Germany are considered by many Winter Olympics watchers, as the nation who could possible dethrone the Norwegians this time around in Milan-Cortina.
They are of course the “slide” specialists, with medals in Luge, Bobsleigh, and Skeleton almost guaranteed.
The “Tobis” are considered the best doubles luge team in the world. Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, both 38, have won six total/consecutive Olympic gold medals in men’s doubles and the team relay, and are the favourites to win more.
Canada (10/1)
As one of the most successful nations in Winter Olympic history, Canada arrive in Italy with plenty of expectations, but topping the gold medals table at the end of the competition is probably out of reach for the proud Olympic country.
Leading the way for Team Canada in Italy will be figure skating star Madeline Schizas, while Canada’s ice hockey roster features two players with previous Olympics experience in Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty.
*Odds subject to change - prices accurate at the time of writing*
