Most Popular Winter Sports at the Olympic Games

From February 6 to 22, 2026, the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games will bring together more than 3,500 athletes who will compete in 16 sports and 116 events. Compared to the 2022 Winter Olympics, there will be one additional discipline and 7 more events. The debuting sport is Ski Mountaineering.

This overview presents a Olympic Games Winter sports list and takes a closer look at some of the most popular Olympic winter sports that attract the most attention during the Games.

Every sports fan has a favourite discipline, but the Olympics, held every 4 years, are a chance to pay attention not only to familiar sports but also to those that are usually less visible. Some sports, however, consistently attract the largest audiences, television coverage and media discussion.

Below are several Winter Olympic Games sports that traditionally receive the most attention at top online bookmakers.

Figure skating first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1908 as part of the Summer Olympics and has been included in the Winter Olympics since 1924, which makes it the oldest winter sport at the Games. It stands out from other disciplines because it combines athleticism with artistic expression.

Unlike purely skill-based timed events, figure skating includes music, choreography, costumes and performance style that are judged alongside technical difficulty. Historically, Gillis Grafström (1920, 1924, 1928) and Sonja Henie (1928, 1932, 1936) each won 3 Olympic gold medals in figure skating.

Ski jumping has been part of the Winter Olympics since the first Games in 1924. It is one of the most visually striking Olympic Games winter sports, with jumpers flying more than 100 metres through the air and relying on perfect take-off, balance and aerodynamics.

The combination of speed on the in-run, take-off timing and body position in flight makes ski jumping one of the most dramatic and visually impressive winter sports to watch. Matti Nykänen and Simon Ammann have each won 4 Olympic gold medals, while Urša Bogataj has 2 Olympic titles.

Ice hockey has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1924 and is the most popular team sport at the Games. For a period, NHL clubs did not allow their players to participate, but in 2024 an agreement was reached and NHL players are set to take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Canada has the most Olympic titles in ice hockey with 9 gold medals. The United States have won 2 gold medals but also have 8 silver medals, which shows how often the team has reached the final. Olympic ice hockey tournaments attract global attention due to the high level of play and the presence of many of the world’s best players.

Snowboarding made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Winter Games in Japan. In 2026 the sport will include 5 men’s events, 5 women’s events and 1 mixed team snowboard cross.

Snowboarding represents youth culture and is closely linked with creative tricks and individual style. It is judged on both style and difficulty, which makes results unpredictable and viewing highly engaging. 11 athletes have won 3 Olympic medals in snowboarding, but only Shaun White has won 3 Olympic gold medals in this sport.

Biathlon has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1960. It combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, which tests both endurance and precision. In 2026 there will be 11 biathlon events at the Winter Olympics.

Biathlon at the Olympics success is traditionally associated with a few strong nations. Norway has won 55 biathlon medals in Olympic history, including 22 gold. Germany has 54 medals, with 21 gold, while France is third with 32 medals, including 12 gold. The combination of skiing speed and shooting accuracy makes biathlon one of the most tactically complex winter sports.

The Winter Olympic Games provide a chance to see almost all of the most popular winter sports at the highest level. In total there are 16 disciplines, each with its own events and specific format. In 2026 the Winter Olympic sports are:

In total, 195 Olympic events will be decided at the 2026 Winter Games, but some sports will naturally attract more attention in the battle for gold. Ice hockey, figure skating and snowboarding are among the disciplines that traditionally generate the most interest for winter sports bettors and television audiences. Ski jumping, speed skating and curling can also be highlighted as key sports to follow.

To keep track of the most important moments, it is useful to follow the Winter Olympic Games schedule and pay particular attention to medal events in these disciplines.