Team GB Eyes Record Medal Haul At Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

The countdown is nearly over, and anticipation is building as the 2026 Winter Olympics prepare to take center stage in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to February 22, 2026. This marks the fourth time Italy has welcomed the world for the Winter Games, the last being in Turin in 2006. With nearly 3,000 athletes set to compete across 16 sports, fans from around the globe are gearing up for an action-packed fortnight filled with high stakes, dramatic moments, and the thrill of Olympic competition.

Things officially get underway with the Opening Ceremony at the iconic San Siro Stadium on February 6, though a handful of events will actually begin before that. The Olympic torch’s arrival in Milan is sure to be a spectacle, setting the stage for what promises to be a historic edition of the Games. This year, there’s a fresh twist: snow mountaineering will make its Olympic debut, joining the likes of Alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding, and speed skating.

For fans eager to catch every nail-biting moment, NBC is once again the official broadcaster in the United States, delivering comprehensive coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, live competitions, and enhanced showcase events. But there’s a modern twist—viewers can also stream all the action live on Peacock Premium, with every sport, competition, and medal ceremony available at their fingertips. Peacock Premium costs $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without, while annual subscriptions offer savings: $109.99 with ads and $169.99 ad-free. There are even special deals for Xfinity customers, students, first responders, Instacart+ subscribers, and Walmart+ members, making Olympic fever more accessible than ever.

And for those who want to experience the Games on the big screen, NBC is bringing select coverage, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, to theaters across the country. So whether you’re at home, on the go, or with friends at your local cinema, there’s no excuse to miss out on the world’s greatest winter athletes chasing gold.

One nation arriving in Italy with renewed optimism is Great Britain, a country not traditionally known for winter sports prowess. But as the Milan-Cortina Games approach, Team GB is brimming with world champions, X Games gold medallists, and World Cup podium regulars. Could this be the year that the British team truly breaks through on the snow and ice?

Historically, Great Britain’s best medal haul at a Winter Olympics is five, achieved at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. Yet, UK Sport projects that Team GB could claim up to eight medals in 2026—a bold target, but one that seems increasingly realistic given the squad’s depth and recent performances. “We’ve gone from a nation happy to be at the start line to a nation that’s truly capable of winning,” said Vicky Gosling, chief executive of GB Snowsport. “Not only do we expect to be on the start line, but we expect a medal. The Eddie the Eagle days are over.”

Among the standout British athletes is Matt Weston, a two-time world champion in men’s skeleton who has dominated the World Cup circuit, winning five of seven golds this season. His teammate Marcus Wyatt, who claimed silver behind Weston at the last World Championships, is also a podium contender. Their events take place on February 12, 13, and 15, and both are expected to make serious runs at the medals.

On the slopes, Zoe Atkin is the reigning world champion in freestyle skiing halfpipe. She’s had a stellar season, with three World Cup podiums—including a gold—and a recent X Games victory. Her Olympic campaign begins February 19 with qualifying, followed by the finals on February 21. Charlotte Bankes, a 2021 world champion in snowboard cross, returns after bouncing back from injury to win her first race in January. She’ll compete on February 13 and in the mixed team event on February 15.

Meanwhile, Mia Brookes, who became the youngest world champion in snowboarding history at just 16 in 2023, is one to watch in big air and slopestyle. She’s already secured back-to-back big air Crystal Globes and captured gold and bronze at the latest X Games. Brookes’ Olympic schedule includes big air qualifying and finals on February 8 and 9, and slopestyle on February 16 and 17. Kirsty Muir, another rising star, is a two-time World Cup gold medallist and X Games champion, with events on February 7, 9, 14, and 16.

On the ice, the duo of Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear have made history as the first British figure skaters to win a World Championship medal since the legendary Torvill and Dean. Their bronze in Boston in March 2025 capped a season that also included four European medals and two Grand Prix Final bronzes. They’ll take to the Olympic ice on February 9 and 11, aiming to end a 32-year British medal drought in figure skating.

Team GB’s curling squads are also in the spotlight. Bruce Mouat’s men’s rink are the reigning world champions, having dominated the European circuit and claimed Olympic silver in 2022. Curling events run throughout the Games, with hopes high for multiple podium finishes, especially as Team Mouat and Jennifer Dodds team up in the mixed event and Team Morrison looks to defend their gold from Beijing.

These medal hopes are fueled by increased investment. UK Sport has allocated £25.5 million to winter sports for the 2022-2026 Olympic cycle, up from £22.2 million for Beijing. While this is still less than what U.S. federations receive in a single year, the results are showing: British athletes won nine World Championship medals across sports last season, with skiers and snowboarders racking up 28 major podiums, three Crystal Globes, and a World Championship title for Atkin. In skeleton, the British team captured three World Championship medals and 19 World Cup medals, seven of which were gold.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing—injuries have threatened to derail some athletes’ preparations, and there’s always the unpredictability of winter sports. “We can’t bank on anything because literally anything can happen. There’s that sense of jeopardy,” cautioned Gosling. Team GB chef de mission Eve Muirhead echoed the sentiment: “What a great opportunity we have, but we’ve also got to take into account the high risk of winter sport—and that’s why everyone loves it.”

For those tracking the Olympic calendar, key dates include the first gold medal events on February 7, women’s Alpine skiing downhill on February 8, men’s figure skating on February 13, women’s Alpine skiing slalom on February 18, and the much-anticipated women’s ice hockey gold medal game and the first-ever ski mountaineering medals on February 19. The men’s ice hockey gold medal game and the Closing Ceremony will bring the curtain down on February 22.

As the world gets ready to watch nearly 3,000 athletes chase their Olympic dreams, all eyes will be on Milan and Cortina. Will Team GB surpass their previous best and rewrite winter sports history? With a deep squad, world-class talent, and a nation rallying behind them, the stage is set for unforgettable moments and new legends to be born.

With the Opening Ceremony just days away and the world’s attention fixed on Italy, the 2026 Winter Olympics are poised to deliver drama, excitement, and perhaps a few surprises. Whether you’re tuning in on Peacock, catching the action on NBC, or joining the crowd at a local theater, get ready for a winter spectacle like no other.