The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will feature wheelchair curling competitions from March 4 to 14 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. This marks the sport's return to Italy since its Paralympic debut in Torino 2006, with new mixed doubles event making its debut alongside the established mixed team competition.
Wheelchair curling, a Paralympic sport demanding teamwork and precision, involves athletes with lower-body impairments sliding granite stones down the ice from a seated position using a delivery stick. Without sweeping, shots require high accuracy, and strategies include blocking opponents, aiming for the house center, and takeouts.
The mixed team event features four active players and one alternate per team, with games consisting of eight ends and each team delivering eight stones. The mixed doubles, debuting at the Paralympics, also has eight ends but each team delivers five stones, starting with two pre-positioned for immediate action.
Competitions begin on March 4, two days before the Opening Ceremony, and run until March 14. Hosts Italy will face the Republic of Korea in the first mixed doubles round-robin game. Medal finals are scheduled for March 11 in mixed doubles and March 13-14 in mixed team.
Eight teams will compete in mixed doubles: Italy, Republic of Korea, United States of America, China, Japan, Latvia, Great Britain, and Estonia. The mixed team tournament includes 10 teams, among them Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Slovakia.
The sport debuted at Torino 2006 and has seen Canada dominate with multiple golds, while China won the last two titles in 2018 and 2022. Legends include Canada's Sonja Gaudet with three golds. All 81 matches will occur at the historic Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, built for 1956 Olympics and hosting Paralympic events for the first time. Italy returns after Vancouver 2010, with athlete Egidio Marchese competing at home again. Japan, world mixed doubles champions, and recent debutants Estonia and Latvia add excitement.
