As the calendar turns to January 2026, the world’s attention is sharpening on the craggy, pink-hued peaks of the Ampezzo Valley. Cortina d’Ampezzo, the storied “Queen of the Dolomites,” is currently stepping back into the Olympic spotlight, seventy years after it first hosted the Winter Games in 1956. This isn’t just a destination for elite athletes; it is a meticulously curated landscape where high-fashion boutiques rub shoulders with rustic mountain huts, and where “enrosadira”—the magical sunset glow of the Dolomites—serves as the daily opening ceremony. Whether you are here for the thrill of the women’s downhill on the Olympia di Tofane or the refined social ritual of the evening stroll, Cortina in 2026 offers a masterclass in Italian Alpine glamour.
The Olympic Arena: Front-Row Seats to History
Cortina d’Ampezzo is the beating heart of the 2026 outdoor program, hosting headline events in Alpine skiing, curling, and the adrenaline-fueled sliding sports. The Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre remains the crown jewel, where the world’s fastest women will navigate the perilous schuss of the Tofane massif. For a different kind of thrill, the newly unveiled Eugenio Monti Sliding Centre snakes up the hillside like a giant Scalextric track, bringing bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton back to these historic slopes. This controversial yet cutting-edge facility is designed not just for the Games, but as a legacy for “the brave” who wish to experience the G-forces of the ice track long after the medals have been awarded.
For those who prefer their sports with a side of strategic “chess on ice,” the Olympic Ice Stadium has been transformed. Originally built for the 1956 Games, the venue has undergone a sophisticated overhaul, retaining its cozy, wood-cabin vibe while providing world-class conditions for curling. Even if you aren’t a sports enthusiast, a ride on the Freccia nel Cielo cable car is essential. In just 30 minutes, it whisks you from the town center to the 3,244-meter summit of Tofana di Mezzo, offering vertiginous views of the bobsleigh track’s extreme-angled sidewalls and a panoramic perspective of the entire Olympic valley..JPG)
Gourmet on the Peaks: Michelin Stars and Mountain Huts
Dining in Cortina has always been a “star-studded” affair, but the 2026 season has elevated the local culinary scene to new heights. The town boasts a rare density of Michelin-starred destinations, most notably SanBrite, where chef Riccardo Gaspari practices “regenerative cooking” using ingredients grown on his own organic farm. For a more casual yet equally high-end experience, the new town center branch of Milan’s Le Eccellenze di Esselunga serves as a gourmet emporium-deli, offering everything from blu di capra goat cheese to house-made pasta—perfect for a sophisticated picnic on the piste.
True to the “Dolomiti” spirit, some of the best meals are found thousands of feet above sea level. Masi Wine Bar at the Col Druscié station offers refined dishes paired with Amarone against a backdrop of serrated ridges. For a taste of tradition, one must try casunziei—triangular ravioli filled with red beets and flavored with melted butter and poppy seeds—at mountain huts like Rifugio Pomedes. Whether you are dining in a rustic rifugio or a low-lit boutique restaurant like Hotel de Len, the flavors of Cortina in 2026 remain a perfect alchemy of Italian elegance and Tyrolean soul.
The Red Carpet of the Alps: Shopping and Style
If the ski slopes are Cortina’s office, Corso Italia is its stage. This pedestrian artery is famously known as “Italy’s red carpet,” lined with flagship stores from Dior, Prada, and Moncler. In 2026, the evening passeggiata (stroll) has become an even more vibrant ritual, as fans and fashionistas alike congregate to see and be seen. For those seeking authentic local craftsmanship, Artigianato Artistico Ampezzano near the town’s lofty white bell tower offers intricate silver filigree jewelry and inlaid wood boxes that have been a part of the valley’s heritage for centuries.
The social epicenter of the Games is undoubtedly the Hotel Ancora, recently revamped by the design team behind Soho House. Its sweeping terrace overlooking the Corso is the premier spot for an aperitivo—try a “Count Lucano” as the peaks turn pink. For those looking to continue the party, the hotel’s Club Brave offers a “New York chic” cocktail bar experience that famously bans phones but encourages exhibitionism. It is here, under the indigo night sky, that the true “Olympic spirit” of Cortina reveals itself: a blend of high-octane sport and unapologetic luxury.
Beyond the Medals: Active Recovery and Secret Trails
For visitors who want to “act like an Olympian” without the starting gate, Cortina offers endless opportunities for active recovery. While the competition slopes may be off-limits, the rest of the Dolomiti Superski network—the world’s largest—remains open. The brand-new Apollonio-Socrepes cable car provides easy access to the Cinque Torri area, where the distinctive rock formations serve as an open-air museum of WWI history. Here, you can ski past restored trenches and bunkers, a sobering and beautiful reminder of the region’s complex past.
After a day on the mountain, the 2026 trend is all about “bio-hacking” recovery. The spa at Hotel de Len offers Finnish saunas and salt baths with panoramic views of the Tofane massif, using signature massages fragrant with local Alpine herbs to soothe ski-worn muscles. For a more secluded experience, a sunrise hike to Lago di Sorapis offers a crystalline, turquoise reward that feels a world away from the Olympic crowds. In Cortina, the “gold medal” experience is often found in these quiet moments of connection with the wild, UNESCO-protected landscape that surrounds the “Queen of the Dolomites.”
