Snowboarding Milano Cortina 2026: Schedule, Events & McMorris

Few things in winter sports grab attention quite like a snowboarder’s comeback from a life-threatening crash. With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics approaching, all eyes are on Livigno Snow Park — a brand-new Olympic venue — and on Canadian rider Mark McMorris, who is racing to compete after a terrifying pre-Olympic fall. Here’s what you need to know about the snowboarding program, the schedule, and the athlete story that’s capturing headlines.

Total snowboarding events: 11 ·
Venue: Livigno Snow Park, Valtellina, Italy ·
Dates: 5–18 February 2026 ·
First Winter Olympics in Italy since 2006: Milano Cortina 2026 ·
Mark McMorris injury: Pre-Olympic fall in February 2025

The key facts table below highlights the core details that define this edition: a brand‑new venue and a high‑stakes athlete comeback.

Is there snowboarding in the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Yes, snowboarding is a core part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics program. The International Ski Federation (FIS) has confirmed 11 medal events, all held at the newly built Livigno Snow Park in the Valtellina region of northern Italy (Milano Cortina 2026 Snowboard Sport Information Book). This marks the first Winter Olympics hosted by Italy since the 2006 Turin Games.

The snowboard program includes disciplines across Big Air, Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Parallel Giant Slalom, and Snowboard Cross for both men and women, plus a mixed team snowboard cross event. The full schedule runs from 5 to 18 February 2026 (Skipass Livigno ski guide).

Where is snowboarding in Milano Cortina?

All snowboarding events take place at Livigno Snow Park, located within the Mottolino ski area in Livigno, a traditional alpine town in the Valtellina valley. The venue sits at an elevation of 1,816 meters, offering reliable snow conditions and purpose-built competition facilities (Valtellina tourism website).

What is Livigno like?

• Livigno is a well-known ski resort with modern infrastructure, including high-speed lifts and extensive snowmaking systems.
• The town is approximately 200 kilometers from Milan, roughly a 2.5-hour drive by car (Livigno official tourism site).
• Livigno Snow Park will host halfpipe, slopestyle, big air, snowboard cross, ski cross, and parallel giant slalom — a total of 26 medal events across freestyle and snowboard disciplines.

Why was Livigno chosen?

The Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee selected Livigno for its proven track record in hosting international snowboard and freestyle events, as well as its high-altitude location that ensures snow reliability. The venue is purpose-built for Olympic competition, with dedicated training areas and spectator infrastructure (Valtellina tourism website).

What is the schedule for snowboarding at Milano Cortina 2026?

Snowboarding competitions run from 5 to 18 February 2026, with official training sessions scheduled before each event (Milano Cortina 2026 Snowboard Sport Information Book). The exact daily schedule — including start times for each discipline — has not yet been released by organizers.

What are the exact dates for each event?

• Men’s and women’s Big Air: expected early in the program (5–7 February)
• Halfpipe: mid-program (8–11 February)
• Slopestyle: overlapping with halfpipe (9–12 February)
• Snowboard Cross: second week (13–15 February)
• Parallel Giant Slalom: final days (16–18 February)
• Mixed team snowboard cross: 15 February

When are the medal events?

Medal events are scheduled daily during the competition window, with finals typically held in the afternoon local time. The mixed team snowboard cross final on 15 February and the Parallel Giant Slalom finals on 18 February are expected to draw the largest crowds (Skipass Livigno ski guide).

What happened with Mark McMorris?

Mark McMorris, the three-time Olympic bronze medalist from Canada, suffered a serious fall during a pre-Olympic training session in early 2025. According to Forbes sports report, McMorris crashed while practicing big air and was stretchered off the hill. Reports indicated he was placed in a medically induced coma following the incident.

Why was Mark McMorris in a coma?

The crash caused significant head trauma, leading doctors to place McMorris in a coma to reduce brain swelling. The NBC Olympics report noted that he would miss the men’s snowboard big air contest as a result of the injury. However, McMorris received clearance from his medical team to compete in slopestyle at Milano Cortina 2026 (CBC Olympics coverage).

Are Mark McMorris and Coco still together?

McMorris’s relationship status with his partner, Coco, has not been publicly confirmed in recent months. While the couple has been together for several years, neither McMorris nor Coco has made a public statement about their current relationship status as of early 2026.

Will Mark McMorris compete in Milano Cortina 2026?

Yes. McMorris received doctor clearance to compete in men’s snowboard slopestyle at Milano Cortina 2026, according to CBC Olympics coverage. He finished eighth in the slopestyle final, as reported by Team Canada / Olympic.ca. His bronze medal from Sochi 2014 remains his best Olympic result.

What snowboarding events are featured at Milano Cortina 2026?

The Milano Cortina 2026 snowboard program includes 11 events across five disciplines, plus a mixed team event. The table below confirms that every discipline from Beijing 2022 returns, with the mixed team snowboard cross continuing as a crowd favorite.

What are the men’s events?

• Men’s Big Air
• Men’s Halfpipe
• Men’s Slopestyle
• Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom
• Men’s Snowboard Cross

What are the women’s events?

• Women’s Big Air
• Women’s Halfpipe
• Women’s Slopestyle
• Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom
• Women’s Snowboard Cross

Are there mixed team events?

Yes. Mixed team snowboard cross is included, where one male and one female athlete from the same nation compete in a relay-style format. There are no mixed team events for Big Air, Halfpipe, Slopestyle, or Parallel Giant Slalom (Milano Cortina 2026 Snowboard Sport Information Book).

“I’ve been through a lot, but I’m not done yet. Milano Cortina is my goal.”

— Mark McMorris, speaking to CBC Olympics coverage after receiving medical clearance

“Livigno Snow Park will be a world-class venue that showcases the best of snowboarding and freestyle skiing.”

— Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee, via Valtellina tourism website

The snowboarding program at Milano Cortina 2026 represents a full slate of events that will test athletes across technical, speed, and freestyle disciplines. For Mark McMorris, the Games offered a chance to prove that resilience can outlast injury — even if the podium remains just out of reach this time. For fans in Italy and around the world, Livigno Snow Park promises to deliver the high-stakes drama that makes Olympic snowboarding must-watch television.

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