A spectacle of truly monumental scale, the 2026 Winter Olympics is bringing together 3,500 athletes from 93 countries, competing for 195 medals across 16 Olympic disciplines and six Paralympic sports. The magnitude of the occasion is undeniable: vast, complex, and expected to attract a global audience of roughly 3 billion. With an operating budget of €1.7 billion and an estimated €3.5 billion in infrastructure investments, the financial side of the Games is just as impressive.
The expected 2 million visitors and increased business in the two main host cities, Milan and Cortina, as well as in several other regions where the competitions are taking place, are expected to boost the Italian economy, bringing in over €5 billion in revenues. But what does it actually cost to go to Milanо Cortina 2026 and cheer for your favourites? The team at PlayersTime set out to examine the real cost of attending one of the most dynamic events of the year – in concrete, practical terms. The analysis breaks down the expenses for two people in Italy for three days: from accommodation and transport costs, to dining out and grocery shopping – all in the pursuit of experiencing the Games and returning with memories worth the investment.
- Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Livigno are the main hotspots of the 2026 Winter Olympics, hosting the largest number of disciplines and competitions.
- Figure skating, often cited as one of the top Olympic events, has the highest ticket prices after the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
- The total ticket cost ranges from €1,103.23 to €6,093.63, for two people attending three events per day over three days.
Returning to Italy for the first time since Turin 2006, the Olympic Games open with their most prestigious and visually striking moment: the Opening Ceremony. Unsurprisingly, the ceremony also carries the highest ticket prices. Single tickets range from €260 to €2,026 across Categories A, B, and C. Spectators – who are willing to skip premium seating but still want to experience this historic event – enhanced by performances from global icons such as Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and Laura Pausini – can expect to pay an average of €700 for Category B or C tickets.
Outside the Opening Ceremony, Figure Skating ranks as the most expensive event at Milano Cortina 2026, reflecting its status as one of the Games’ most celebrated and visually captivating disciplines. Average ticket prices range from €292 to €505 for second- and third-category seating, while premium tickets reach €735. This globally beloved sport will be staged over six competition days at the renowned Milano Ice Skating Arena, which will also host Short Track Speed Skating. Ranking third in overall ticket cost, Short Track offers mid-range seats at an average of €260, with premium options priced up to €450. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games will also introduce eight new Olympic events in skiing and luge, among others, as well as a debuting sport, namely ski mountaineering, adding fresh appeal for spectators. The discipline, which is now available as an optional sport at the Olympics, will be hosted by the town of Bormio and its Stelvio piste. Stelvio is located on Vallecetta mountain and, at an average incline of 30.9%, it is widely considered to be one of the most difficult and technical downhill courses in the world. Tickets for the events – men/women qualifications and finals, as well as mixed relay – are available for just €40.
Methodology
This analysis is based on data drawn from a range of authoritative sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of the real cost of attending the 2026 Olympic Games. Information from Olympics.com, Booking.com, Numbeo, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, FlixBus, Daytrip.com, and AirROI was used to evaluate accommodation, food, transportation, and ticket expenses across three key Winter Olympic host destinations. The PlayersTime team began by collecting and structuring ticket data by venue and discipline. Ticket prices were then categorised to reflect three distinct visitor profiles – budget, mid-range, and premium – allowing for the calculation of average costs by discipline and seating tier. This approach enabled a consistent comparison of spectator expenses across events and locations. We estimated the average ticket price for competitions hosted in Milan and Cortina, as well as in Livigno, which emerged as one of the locations with a large number of events. We also estimated the average price of tickets by sport. In parallel, cost data for the above-mentioned Olympic venues was analysed, incorporating daily spending at restaurants and grocery shops, as well as total expenses for a three-day stay for two people. To make a fair comparison, we put together a shopping basket, a virtual trolley, containing basic food items, enough for 2 people for 3 days:
- Milk (regular, 1 litre), eggs (12, large size), local cheese (0.200 g)
- Fresh white bread (500 g loaf), white rice (0.500 kg)
- Chicken Fillets (0.500 kg), beef round or equivalent back leg red meat (0.500 kg)
- Apples (1 kg), bananas (0.500 kg), oranges (1 kg)
- Tomatoes (1 kg), potatoes (1 kg), onions (0.100 kg), lettuce (2 heads)
- Bottled water (1.5 l, x3), bottle of wine (mid-range), domestic beer (0.5 l, x3), imported beer (0.33 l bottle x3)
We added up the total cost of the trolley in Euro from Numbeo for the three cities, as well as the prices of restaurant food – once again, for 2 people staying in these destinations for 3 days.
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant
- Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (three courses, without drinks)
- Combo fast-food meal
- Domestic draft beer (0.5 l), imported beer (0.33 l), cappuccino (regular size), soft drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 0.33 l), bottled water (0.33 l)
Food costs for budget travellers were calculated using only the prices of groceries, while solely restaurant food was used for the premium visitor costs. Calculations for mid-range visitors used a mix of the two. Transport costs were assessed both within Milan (3-day cards for public transport, taxi rides) and for intercity travel to Cortina and Livigno. Accommodation pricing, including Airbnb nightly rates from AirROI and hotel options (from Booking.com), was also reviewed: budget traveller stays contained only short-term rental properties; mid-range accommodation included average rates for 3- and 4-star hotels, whereas luxury or premium stay included only 5-star hotels. When checking the prices, we picked 3 weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) in February 2026, namely the opening weekend (6-9 Feb), the closing weekend (20-23 Feb), and the weekend between 13 and 16 February, segmented according to the same visitor profiles to reflect varying levels of spending capacity. To support a detailed and transparent comparison, all collected data across expense categories was consolidated into three summary tables. These present both average and total costs for a short stay, highlighting overall expenditure by destination and visitor type, and offering a clear framework for understanding the financial demands of attending the Olympic Games.
