The 2026 Winter Olympics from Milano Cortina in Italy are coming up, and the writers at 90minutefamily have taken a look at Norway's chances of medals in this year's games.
Winter Olympics – part of the Norwegian identity
For us Norwegians, the Winter Olympics are far more than a sporting event. It is a gathering point, a national ritual and an arena where small moments become great memories. From early mornings with the radio and TV in the kitchen, to spontaneous cheers during the lunch break – the Winter Olympics have been closely woven into Norwegian everyday life for several generations.
Norway also has every reason to feel ownership of the Winter Games. As the world's most successful nation in the Winter Olympics throughout history, the championships have been a stage where Norwegian athletes have set the standard internationally. Names like Bjørn Dæhlie , Marit Bjørgen , Ole Einar Bjørndalen , Kjetil André Aamodt and Therese Johaug represent not just medals, but eras. The 1994 Lillehammer Olympics still stands as a highlight – both sporting and cultural – and is considered by many to be the best Winter Olympics of all time.
The Winter Olympics are not just about gold, though. They are about drama, community, national pride and the joy of sportsmanship. Moments where underdogs surprise, favorites fall, and new heroes are born. This is what makes the Winter Games more than just a medal table.
Winter Olympics 2026 – Italy as host nation
This year's Winter Olympics will be held in Italy , with the main focus on Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo , from 6 to 22 February 2026. This will be an Olympics with a slightly different geographical profile than in the past, with the competitions spread across several arenas in northern Italy. Alpine skiing will take place in the classic Cortina d'Ampezzo, cross-country skiing and biathlon in Val di Fiemme and Val di Sole, while ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating will be given modern settings in Milan.
Italy has previously hosted the Winter Olympics in Cortina (1956) and Turin (2006) , and the combination of alpine surroundings and urban venues gives the Games a distinctly European feel. The organizers have also placed great emphasis on sustainability, reusing venues and shorter distances – an important signal at a time when the Olympics are constantly being debated in light of costs and the environment.
Norway's medal chances - again among the favorites
As usual, Norway has very high ambitions . Especially in the traditional winter sports, Norway is once again considered one of the largest medal wholesalers.
Cross-country skiing will, as always, be a Norwegian main event. With strong breadth on both the women's and men's side, Norway is a medal favorite in distances, relays and sprints.
Biathlon is perhaps the sport in which Norway appears strongest overall, with several realistic gold candidates in both individual events and relays.
In alpine skiing, Norway again has a generation that can compete at the top of the world, especially in technical disciplines and speed.
Speed skating and combined also provide solid medal opportunities, while jumping is traditionally always a wild card with a high top level.
All in all, Norway is expected to fight at the very top of the medal table, and a double-digit number of gold medals is certainly within reach if things go well. And remember; in our Discord server you can share all the ups, downs and live games with over 600 other sports enthusiasts. Join us here .
Winter Olympics 2026 – Norwegian medal chances
We have highlighted what we believe could be exciting exercises for Norwegian athletes. We will see how well we have hit the mark when we reach the end of the road.
Milan–Cortina | 6–22 February
- ⭐⭐ = clear gold candidate
- ⭐ = real medal/podium candidate
Norwegian medal and gold candidates – Winter Olympics 2026
| Sports | Gold candidates ⭐⭐ | Medal candidates ⭐ |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-country skiing | Men: sprint, distance, relay, 50 km | Women: sprint, distance, relay |
| Biathlon | Men: all individual events, relay Mixed relay, single mixed | Women: individual exercises |
| X Games / Freestyle | Big Air (Men) Slopestyle (Men) | Ski cross (women/men) Halfpipe |
| Alpine skiing | Slalom (men) Super-G (men) Combined (men) | Downhill, giant slalom, team competition |
| Skates | 5,000 m (men) 10,000 m (men) Team time trial (men) | 1,500 m (men) Multiple distances women |
| Curling | Mixed doubles | Women and men |
| Combined | Individual (men) Team competition | Women's individual |
| Jump | Team competition (men) | Individual (men) Women's individual |
Short overall assessment
- Biggest gold medals: Biathlon, men's cross-country skiing, combined
- High peak, high risk: X Games/freestyle
- Outdoor sports: Alpine skiing and ice skating
- Quiet medal favorite: Curling (especially mixed)
The following athletes have the highest expectations. It will be seen if they deliver when it matters most. There should be some gold if we know our athletes. We have some fantastic stars out there.
Norwegian gold favorites
| Sports | Exercise | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-country skiing | Sprint / distance / relay | Johannes Høsflot Klæbo |
| Biathlon | Individual exercises | Sturla Holm Lægreid |
| Biathlon | Relay / mixed relay | Sturla Holm Lægreid |
| X Games / Freestyle | Big Air | Birk Ruud |
| X Games / Freestyle | Slopestyle | Birk Ruud |
| Alpine skiing | Slalom | Henrik Kristoffersen |
| Alpine skiing | Super-G | Aleksander Aamodt Source |
| Skates | 5,000 m | Sander Eitrem |
| Skates | 10,000 m | Sander Eitrem |
| Skates | Team pace | Sander Eitrem / Peder Kongshaug and others. |
| Curling | Mixed doubles | Kristin Skaslien / Magnus Nedregotten |
| Combined | Individually | Jorgen Graabak |
| Combined | Team competition | Norway |
| Jump | Team competition | Lindvik / Forfang et al. |
Russian athletes return – a controversial topic
One of the most debated aspects of this year's Olympics is the re-entry of Russian athletes , after they were allowed to participate under certain conditions. This has created strong reactions in the sports world.
Arguments for:
- Sports and politics should be kept separate
- Many practitioners are not responsible for political decisions
- The Olympics must be inclusive and bring the world together
Arguments against:
- Participation can be perceived as a normalization of the situation
- Difficult to ensure full political neutrality
- Previous experiences with doping and rule violations create distrust
The discussion shows that the Olympics are not just a sport, but also a mirror of the world situation. How this affects the competitions – and the atmosphere – remains to be seen.
A Winter Olympics to look forward to
The Winter Olympics in Italy are set to be a magnificent sporting celebration, filled with drama, prestige and moments that will be talked about for years. For Norway, it is once again about defending a proud tradition, but also about creating new memories – new heroes and new stories.
When the flame is lit in Milan in February, we know one thing for sure: Norway will follow suit – closely, engaged and passionately. ❄️🏅
