Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Medals Unveiled

MILAN —The 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics medals are here, and they align with the overall minimalist bent of the upcoming Games.

Unveiled at Palazzo Balbi in Venice on Tuesday, the medals boast a sleek aesthetic reflecting the country’s legacy in avant-garde design.

The Winter Games will be held between Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, a luxury winter resort in the Veneto region not distant from Venice. The Olympics will run Feb. 6 to 22, while the Paralympics will run March 6 to 15.

They will mark the third time Italy hosts the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, following the 1956 edition, also held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Turin in 2006.

The 0.3-inch-thick medals, boasting a diameter of 3.1 inches, feature two halves welded together to symbolize the union of the two cities, said Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, but also the connection between the athletes and their support network of coaches, teammates, families, and fans, instrumental to their victories. The medals come in a round box with a frosted finish.

“The medals of Milano Cortina 2026 are much more than mere awards: they are the heartbeat of Italy, the essence of a design that moves, the reflection of a dream taking shape. They encapsulate the identity of a country — its creativity, its passion for sports and beauty,” said Giovanni Malagò, president of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.

“Each medal, whether Olympic or Paralympic, is a story etched into metal: it speaks of effort, determination, sacrifice, and the hopes of those who have lived to reach the podium. But it also tells the story of a country that believes in the most authentic values of sport. Those who win it will carry with them not just the tribute of victory, but a living fragment of the Italian spirit an eternal symbol of what we are capable of dreaming and achieving together,” he added.

The gold, silver and bronze medals were manufactured by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, or Italian State Mint, in Rome with a sustainable approach, including the use of non-toxic and recyclable protective finishes, with energy channeled into the process coming entirely from renewable sources.

They were designed by a multidisciplinary team led by Raffaella Paniè, brand, identity and look of the Games director for Milano Cortina 2026.

“We conceived a medal that represents purity and a return to essence. With our medals, we celebrate the strength found in difference: two unique halves that join through the Olympic and Paralympic symbols to deliver a bold and unified message. This concept is also reflected in the surfaces of the medals, where two textures meet and begin a story written not only by the athletes and Para athletes, but also by those who supported them: coaches, teammates, family members, and fans,” Paniè said about the design process.

The 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic awards comprise 1,146 gold, silver and bronze medals overall, to be awarded across 195 competitions and events. In addition to the main two locations, the latter will be held also in neighboring cities.

Brands are gradually joining as partners of the Games in a quest to secure a considerable return in terms of image, as well. For example, partners will include the likes of Emporio Armani’s EA7 line, Salomon, Omega, P&G, Alibaba, Coca Cola and Samsung, to name a few. Kiko Milano, Technogym and Salesforce also figure as sponsors of the event.

On Tuesday, the design was presented by two Italian athletes: Olympic swimming champion Federica Pellegrini and Paralympic champion Francesca Porcellato, who has won medals across disciplines, including Para athletics, Para cross-country skiing, and Para cycling.

As reported, last April Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 unveiled the Olympics and Paralympics torch via two simultaneous events at the Triennale Milano museum here and at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Aptly christened “Essential,” the minimalist torches were designed by Carlo Ratti Associati, the architectural studio of famed Italian architect and urban planner Carlo Ratti, who is also the curator of the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture running through Nov. 23.

The anticipation around the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is exponentially growing in Italy.

The event promises to enhance Milan’s international appeal and Cortina’s status as a luxury ski resort destination.