The 2026 Winter Olympics officially come to an end on Sunday, February 22, but the good news is that there’s more Olympic action just a few weeks away. The Paralympics start soon, offering a bevy of more Olympic sports to watch.
The Paralympics, according to Team USA’s official website, happen every two years and alternate between summer and winter. So, the winter and summer Paralympics each happen every four years.
So, when do the Paralympics start in 2026, and where are the Paralympics? Also, how do you watch the Paralympics? Here’s what to know about the upcoming Games.
When Do the Paralympics Start? Here’s Everything to Know About the 2026 Winter Games
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics begin on March 6, 2026, and end on March 15, 2026. They last a total of 10 days.
At the Paralympics, more than 650 athletes will compete for 79 gold medals across six sports showing off their “athleticism, fortitude, and adaptability,” according to NBC News’ official Olympics website. The 2026 Paralympic Games also mark the 50th anniversary of the first Winter Paralympics.
Where Are the Winter Paralympics?
The 2026 Winter Paralympics will take place in Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. In the Milan area, events will happen at San Siro Stadium, Mediolanum Forum in Assago, Palasharp in Lampugnano and the Santa Giulia arena.
Also, the 2026 Paralympics will feature two mascots, Tina and Milo, and their names represent of the host cities Cortina and Milano. “Tina and Milo are stoats, or small mammals that are part of the mustelid family along with weasels and otters,” Team USA reports. “The mascots were designed in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Education by students of the Istituto Comprensivo of Taverna in Calabria.”
So, who’s the most decorated Paralympic athlete? According to Team USA research, “Leading up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, Oksana Masters is the most decorated Team USA Winter Paralympian with 14 Winter Paralympic medals and five Summer Paralympic medals, including the impressive feat of achieving seven medals in seven events at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.”
How to Watch the Winter Paralympics in 2026
You don’t have to travel to Italy to watch the action. For 2026, NBC and its affiliates own the broadcasting rights to the Olympics. So, you’ll be able to watch the action on NBC, NBC’s website platforms, the USA Network and CNBC with live TV coverage, and you’ll also be able to see the events live and with on-demand streaming through Peacock.
Peacock and USA Network will air live coverage of the opening ceremony starting at 2 p.m. ET on March 6, with pre-show coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. NBC and Peacock will also feature primetime highlight shows on March 7 and March 14 at 8 p.m. ET.
Specifically, NBC, USA Network and CNBC will air 80 hours of programming, and that includes a total of eight hours on the main NBC channel. NBC Sports Digital will stream more than 270 hours of programming, and Peacock will offer coverage of every single event.
The final NBC’s Paralympics coverage will feature the sled hockey gold medal game on Sunday, March 15, at 11:05 a.m. ET. If the U.S. wins, they’ll get the country’s fifth consecutive gold medal.
When Do the Winter Paralympics Start? Next Olympics Event is Soon