Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: 79 Medal Events, Expanded Athlete Quotas
Author: International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Published: 2023/07/31 - Updated: 2025/03/05
Publication Type: Announcement
Topic: 2026 Italy Paralympic Games - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: The IPC confirms 79 medal events and 665 athlete quotas for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, introducing wheelchair curling mixed doubles.
Why it matters: This announcement details the finalized medal event program and athlete quotas for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, as confirmed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Games will feature 79 medal events across six winter sports, including the debut of wheelchair curling mixed doubles. There will be 39 medal events for men, 35 for women, and five mixed events, with sports like Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, and Para cross-country skiing achieving gender parity in the number of medal events. A total of 665 athlete quota places have been allocated - 323 for men, 176 for women, and 166 gender-free - marking a 20% increase from the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. This report provides valuable information on the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, detailing the medal event program and athlete quotas. It highlights the inclusion of a new event, wheelchair curling mixed doubles, and emphasizes the increased participation opportunities for athletes, particularly women. If all quotas are filled, Milano Cortina 2026 will host the largest number of athletes in Paralympic Winter Games history. - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Milano Cortina 2026 will showcase 79 Paralympic medal events across six winter sports, with one new medal event - wheelchair curling mixed doubles - featuring for the first time at a Paralympic Winter Games.
Main Item
There will be 39 medal events for men, 35 for women, and five mixed events. Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing will offer gender parity in terms of the number of medal events.
In total there are 665 athlete quota places (323 for men, 176 for women, and 166 gender-free) for the Games, which is 20 per cent higher than the 558 final entry numbers for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
Should all quota places be fulfilled by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) then Milano Cortina 2026 will be the biggest Paralympic Winter Games to date in terms of athlete participation. PyeongChang 2018 currently holds the record with 564 athletes taking part. If all 176 quota places for women are taken, then it will represent a 29 per cent increase on the record 136 female athletes that participated at Beijing 2022.
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said:
"With just under three years to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, I am really pleased that we can confirm the medal events program and athlete quotas."
"The addition of a second wheelchair curling event adds a new dimension to the ice sports at the Games, while I hope that NPCs and International Federations use the time remaining between now and 2026 to further develop female talent in order to fulfil the number of slots available to them."
Jitske Visser, Chairperson of the IPC Athletes' Council, said:
"It is always a special moment for an athlete when the medal event program is announced and winter sport athletes around the world can now step up their preparations for the games."
"Of course, I would like to see a greater number of athlete slots for females at the Games, but to achieve this for future editions we need to see an increase in the talent pool globally and a greater depth of competition."
Detailed Medals Events Program and Athlete Quotas
Para Alpine Skiing
The medal events program is unchanged from Beijing 2022. There will be 30 medal events (15 male, 15 female). There will be 130 slots for men and 60 for women.
Para Biathlon and Para Cross Country Skiing
There will be 18 Para biathlon (9 male, 9 female) and 20 Para cross-country skiing medal events (9 male, 9 female and 2 gender-free) in 2026. In total there will be 180 athlete quota spots, split 110 for men and 70 for women.
Para Ice Hockey
The Para ice hockey competition is an open team tournament with eight female slots and 136 gender-free athlete slots. There is one medal event, with the USA aiming to win a fifth successive Paralympic title.
Para Snowboard
Snowboard will feature eight medal events (6 male, 2 female), and there will be 85 athlete quota spots (65 for men, 20 for women). A decision will be taken at a later date whether four of the eight medal events will be banked slalom or dual banked.
Wheelchair Curling
For the first time in Paralympic Winter Games history, wheelchair curling will feature two medal events - the mixed team tournament and the mixed doubles tournament. There will be 66 athlete quota spots (18 male, 18 female and 30 gender-free).
About the IPC
The IPC acts as the international federation for six Para sports:
- World Para Athletics
- World Para Dance Sport
- World Para Ice Hockey
- World Para Powerlifting
- World Shooting Para Sport
- World Para Swimming
The IPC's vision is to make for an inclusive world though Para sport.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The expansion of events and athlete quotas for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games signifies a progressive step toward inclusivity in sports. The introduction of wheelchair curling mixed doubles not only diversifies the competition but also highlights the evolving landscape of Paralympic sports. As the Games approach, it will be crucial for National Paralympic Committees and International Federations to actively develop and support female talent, ensuring that the increased quotas translate into meaningful participation and representation. The 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo aren't just another sports event - they're a testament to human grit and a showcase of Italy's knack for blending history with modern spectacle. With the games spread across snowy peaks and city arenas, they promise a visual and emotional feast that could inspire a new wave of fans. For those with disabilities or anyone who values resilience, this event stands as a bold reminder of what's possible when determination meets opportunity. Italy's pulling out all the stops, and if they get it right, this could be one for the history books - a celebration that echoes long after the last medal's handed out. - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and published on 2023/07/31, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) can be contacted at paralympic.org NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.