2026 Winter Olympics

Pin trading has taken over the Olympics. Here’s what it’s like in Milan

Pin trading has become a hallmark of the Olympics in recent decades — and not just for athletes. An official trading center in Milan was a hotspot for longtime collectors and curious newcomers alike.

What I learned watching every sport at the Winter Olympics

Sit down with pop culture critic Linda Holmes as she watches the 2026 Winter Games. She is exhausted by cross-country, says "ow ow ow" during moguls, and makes the case, once and for all, for curling.

American Jordan Stolz speedskates to a third Olympic medal — silver this time

U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz had a lot of hype accompanying him in these Winter Olympic Games. He's now got two gold medals, one silver, with one event to go.

Reporter’s notebook: My Olympic Lunar New Year

An NPR reporter covering the Olympics in Milan takes us on cultural side quests, to a hospitality house and a candy store.

The U.S. and Canada set to square off in Olympic women’s ice hockey gold medal match

Canada was long the top dog of Olympic women's hockey. But with a win Thursday, the Americans could do more than earn a third gold medal — they could prove the sport's balance of power has shifted.

The U.S. falters again in figure skating, but the women still have time to make it up

Alysa Liu finished the night in third place, Isabeau Levito finished in eighth and Amber Glenn is in 13th place after a popped jump. That puts extra pressure on all of them for Thursday's medal event.

U.S. women’s figure skaters could’ve been rivals. Instead, they’re the ‘Blade Angels’

Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito are the U.S.' best shot at winning women's figure skating gold since 2002 — and of closing out these Games on a high note.

One Olympic sport still excludes women. This week’s viewing numbers could change that

Nordic combined is the only Olympic sport that doesn't allow women to compete, despite athletes' efforts to change that. They say their odds for 2030 hinge on people watching men's events this week.

American speedskater Jordan Stolz wins second Olympic gold with 500-meter race victory

With the win, Stolz joins Eric Heiden as the only skaters to take gold in both the 500 and 1,000 at the same Olympics.

54-year-old U.S. curler sets new American Winter Olympics age record

Rich Ruohonen has tried to get to the Olympics for almost 40 years. He finally got his chance, taking to the ice at the Milan Cortina Games representing the U.S. on Team Casper for curling.

Snowboarder Chloe Kim is chasing an Olympic gold three-peat with a torn labrum

At 25, Chloe Kim could become the first halfpipe snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic golds.

Lindsey Vonn says she suffered ‘complex tibia fracture’ in her Olympic downhill crash

The 41-year-old star said her torn ACL was not a factor in her crash. "While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets," she wrote.

Ilia Malinin’s Olympic backflip made history. But he’s not the first to do it

U.S. figure skating phenom Ilia Malinin did a backflip in his Olympic debut, and another the next day. The controversial move was banned from competition for decades until 2024.

Olympic COVID restrictions are gone, but some athletes are still self-quarantining

For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind them. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in COVID times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy.

Mikaela Shiffrin has battled grief, PTSD and freak injury. Now come the Olympic Games

Shiffrin became a celebrity at 18 years old after becoming the youngest-ever skier to win Olympic slalom gold. Since then, she has faced grief, PTSD and freak injury — yet she is ready to bounce back.

U.S. skater Connor McDermott-Mostowy joins record number of out LGBTQ Winter Olympians

When U.S. speedskater Connor McDermott-Mostowy makes his Winter Olympic debut in Milan, he'll join a record number of out LGBTQ athletes. But of the 46 out athletes, only 11 are men.

For many U.S. Olympic athletes, Italy feels like home turf

Many spent their careers training on the mountains they'll be competing on at the Winter Games. Lindsey Vonn wanted to stage a comeback on these slopes and Jessie Diggins won her first World Cup there.

Mariah Carey, coffee makers and other highlights from the Olympic opening ceremony

NPR reporters at the Milan opening ceremony layered up and took notes.

Photos: Highlights from the Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Athletes from around the world attended the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan.

Dog sled, ski ballet and other sports you could once see at the Winter Olympics

For many decades, Olympic Games included "demonstration sports." Some, like curling, became part of the permanent roster. But others, like skijoring, didn't stick around.

What to watch at the 2026 Olympics

NPR journalists are at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Join host A Martinez and correspondents Becky Sullivan, Brian Mann, and Rachel Triesman as they talk about what's coming up.

The Winter Olympics in Italy were meant to be sustainable. Are they?

Italy's Winter Olympics promised sustainability. But in Cortina, environmentalists warn the Games could scar these mountains for decades.

The Winter Olympics gets 8 new events, including its first new sport in decades

Ski mountaineering will make its Olympic debut this year, the first winter sport to do so since 2002. Skeleton, luge, ski jumping and moguls are also getting new events.

Reporter’s notebook: A peek inside the Olympic Village

NPR reporters visited the Milan Olympic Village in the days before the opening ceremony to investigate the dining hall dessert situation and other pressing questions.

The Winter Olympics are upon us. Here’s how to follow along

The Winter Olympics brings hundreds of the world's best winter athletes to northern Italy, where they will face off in 16 different sports across two and a half weeks. Here's how to follow along.

Despite a ‘ruptured’ knee ligament, Lindsey Vonn says she will compete in the Olympics

The 41-year-old's remarkable comeback from retirement was thrown into jeopardy after she hurt her knee during a crash in competition last week. But that won't keep her from racing in the Olympics.

19 Winter Olympic storylines we’re watching (they’re not just about sports)

The Winter Olympics promise plenty of high adrenaline, fierce competition, historic firsts and emotional moments over 2 1/2 weeks. Here are some of the names and narratives to keep an eye on.

U.S. sledder Katie Uhlaender appeal denied, won’t race at Milan Cortina Olympics

International officials say a point-rigging scheme denied American Katie Uhlaender a shot to compete in the Milan Cortina Olympics. But a sports tribunal based in Switzerland says it can't intervene.

Meet Milo and Tina, the ‘first openly Gen Z’ Olympic mascots

The 2026 Olympics and Paralympics mascots are Milo and Tina, a pair of teenage, scarf-clad stoat siblings with big dreams. If you're wondering what a stoat is, you're in the right place.

How American Katie Uhlaender was denied Olympic bid by Canadian coach’s point scheme

Sports officials say a Canadian coach manipulated the point system used by athletes to qualify for the Olympics. His move cost American sled racer Katie Uhlaender her trip to the Milan Cortina Games.

Skier Lindsey Vonn’s Winter Olympic comeback dream is in jeopardy after a crash

Vonn was seen clutching her left knee after crashing in a race in Switzerland on Friday, the last before the Winter Olympics. Her comeback after retiring in 2019 was one of Team USA's biggest stories.

Italian officials voice outrage at the presence of U.S. ICE agents at the 2026 Olympics

U.S. Homeland Security agents provided security support at past Olympics. But after violence by ICE agents in Minneapolis, some Italian officials say an ICE unit is unwelcome in Milan Cortina.