Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics

This will be the ninth time curling is part of the Olympic programme at the Winter Games, the most significant international multi-sport event for disciplines practiced on snow and ice held every four years under the Olympic movement. In this case, curling (a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice toward a target area that’s segmented into four concentric circles) is part of the 2026 Winter Olympics (officially the XXV Winter Olympic Games and commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026), being held 4 February – 22 February 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Subject Curling
Start Date February 4, 2026
End Date February 22, 2026
Status Coming Soon
Location Stadio olimpico del ghiaccio, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Prize Pool None
Participants 30 men’s and women’s teams
Type Indoor
Tournament Champion
Format Single round-robin + single-elimination
Organizer IOC, Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, and World Curling Federation (WCF)

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Curling at the Olympics is one of the sport’s most prestigious global competitions, showcasing the best national teams across three disciplines (men’s, women’s, mixed doubles). The 2026 Games are particularly significant as they return to Italy, where curling gained major attention after Italy’s first Olympic curling medal in 2022 (mixed doubles), boosting local interest and visibility for the sport.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the overall organizer of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The World Curling Federation (WCF) is responsible for the curling competition itself (rules, qualification, coordination with the IOC), while the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee handles execution on the ground in Italy. All work together to stage the curling events within the Olympic programme.

Venues, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics

As for the venue, the Olympic Ice Stadium (Stadio olimpico del ghiaccio) will host all curling competitions. This is a historic indoor arena originally built in the 1950s and updated for the 2026 Games.

There will be 10 teams per event, for a total of 30 teams (10 men’s teams, 10 women’s teams, 10 mixed doubles teams). Men’s & women’s teams have five curlers each (including an alternate), so 50 curlers per gender. Mixed doubles teams: two curlers per team, so 20 curlers. Total competitors: up to 120 athletes across all curling events.

Olympic curling doesn’t have a prize pool in the professional sense. At the Olympics, athletes don’t receive prize money from the Games themselves — they compete for medals (gold, silver, bronze). Financial support or bonuses may come from:

    • National Olympic Committees (NOCs) — many countries award their athletes cash bonuses for medal performances (varies by country).
    • Sponsors or national federations — may also offer stipends or performance bonuses outside the official Olympic program.

Participating Teams in Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Qualification Overview

Let’s list teams by event.

1) Men’s tournament (10 teams):

  • Italy – host nation (automatic)
  • Great Britain (Scotland) – qualification points from 2024/25 Worlds
  • Canada – qualification points
  • Sweden – qualification points
  • Switzerland – qualification points
  • Germany – qualification points
  • Norway – qualification points
  • Czechia – qualification points
  • United States – Olympic Qualification Event (OQE)
  • China – Olympic Qualification Event (OQE)

2) Women’s tournament (10 teams):

  • Italy – host nation (automatic)
  • Canada – qualification points
  • Switzerland – qualification points
  • South Korea – qualification points
  • Sweden – qualification points
  • Denmark – qualification points
  • Great Britain (Scotland) – qualification points
  • China – qualification points
  • United States – Olympic Qualification Event (OQE)
  • Japan – Olympic Qualification Event (OQE)

3) Mixed doubles tournament (10 teams)

  • Italy – host nation (automatic)
  • Sweden – qualification points
  • Great Britain (Scotland) – qualification points
  • Norway – qualification points
  • Canada – qualification points
  • Switzerland – qualification points
  • Estonia – qualification points
  • United States – qualification points
  • Czechia – Olympic Qualification Event (OQE)
  • South Korea – Olympic Qualification Event (OQE)

Structure and Match Format of Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Each of the three curling tournaments at the Milano Cortina 2026 follows the same two-stage structure:

1) Round-robin stage

  • All 10 teams in each event play every other team once (single round-robin).
  • Mixed doubles round-robin begins first on 4 February 2026.
  • Men’s and women’s round robins run from about 11 February to 18–19 February 2026.

2) Playoffs

  • Top-4 teams from the round-robin standings advance to the semifinals.
  • Semifinals Bronze & gold medal games follow.

Every curling match (team or mixed doubles) consists of 10 ends (standard Olympic format).  If tied after 10 ends, extra ends are played until a winner is decided. In the round-robin stage, standings are based on win–loss records. In the playoffs, the semifinal matchups are 1st place vs. 4th place and 2nd place vs. 3rd place. All playoff matches are single-game eliminations (no best-of series).

Favorites in Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

Below are the top tournament favorites for each event.

Men

  • Sweden – Gold medalists (Beijing 2022); benchmark for consistency and tactical excellence.
  • Great Britain (Scotland) – Silver medalists (Beijing 2022); strong Olympic pedigree and clutch play.
  • Canada – Fourth place (Beijing 2022); deepest talent pool globally and perennial medal threat.
  • Switzerland – Bronze medalists (Beijing 2022); disciplined, highly efficient in tight matches.

Women

  • Great Britain (Scotland) – Gold medalists (Beijing 2022); proven champions under Olympic pressure.
  • Japan – Silver medalists (Beijing 2022); exceptional consistency and tactical patience.
  • Sweden – Bronze medalists (Beijing 2022); strong Olympic legacy and balanced team play.
  • Canada – Fourth place (Beijing 2022); historic powerhouse with unmatched depth and experience.

Mixed doubles

  • Italy – Gold medalists (Beijing 2022); defending champions with home advantage in 2026.
  • Norway – Silver medalists (Beijing 2022); strong fundamentals and mixed doubles pedigree.
  • Sweden – Bronze medalists (Beijing 2022); consistently elite in the mixed doubles format.
  • Great Britain (Scotland) – Fourth place (Beijing 2022); strong Olympic performers with tactical discipline.

Curling betting is typically available at licensed international sportsbooks that cover:

  • Winter Olympic sports
  • Niche and precision-based markets

Most of the best gaming betting sites, i.e., regulated bookmakers (Europe & internationally), offer Olympic curling markets during the Games.

Popular betting markets:

  • Outright winner (gold medal) – by event (Men / Women / Mixed Doubles)
  • Medal betting – win any medal
  • Match winner – individual round-robin or playoff games
  • Handicap betting – stone spread or end spread
  • Total ends / total points – over/under markets
  • Live betting – especially popular due to curling’s tactical pace

You can watch the tournament via:

Global coverage

  • Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) produces the official world feed.
  • Broadcast rights are sold country-by-country.

Major broadcasters

  • Europe: Eurosport / Discovery+ (pan-European coverage)
  • Italy: RAI (free-to-air highlights and live sessions)
  • United States: NBC / Peacock
  • Canada: CBC / CBC Gem
  • United Kingdom: BBC (selected live matches & highlights)

Streaming Official Olympic platforms and broadcaster apps will offer: live streams, full replays, and multi-sheet coverage during key sessions.

Pros and Cons of Favorites in Curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics

EVENTTEAMPROSCONS
Men’sSweden • Reigning Olympic champion (2022)
• Outstanding tactical control and shot precision
• Extremely consistent over long tournaments
• Conservative style can limit comeback potential
• Heavy favorite status increases pressure
Men’sGreat Britain (Scotland) • Olympic silver medalist (2022)
• Strong playoff mentality
• Excellent team communication
• Slightly less depth than Canada or Sweden
• Can be vulnerable in long round-robin stretches
Women’sGreat Britain (Scotland) • Reigning Olympic champion (2022)
• Proven winner in high-pressure matches
• Strong defensive curling style
• Targeted tactically as defending champion
• Less margin for error against aggressive teams
Women’sJapan • Olympic silver medalist (2022)
• Extremely consistent and patient gameplay
• Excellent precision and discipline
• Lower power-shot aggression
• Can struggle when forced into high-risk scenarios
Mixed doublesItaly • Reigning Olympic champion (2022)
• Home advantage in Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Strong momentum from historic gold
• Pressure of defending the title on home ice
• Mixed doubles format allows little room for mistakes
Mixed doublesNorway • Olympic silver medalist (2022)
• Strong fundamentals and tactical awareness
• Experienced mixed doubles nation
• Less explosive shot-making than top rivals
• High-tempo matches can disrupt rhythm
Which curling event are you most excited for?
MILOS VASILJEVIC
He’s the mastermind behind our captivating content, leveraging his extensive journalism experience to craft compelling sports news and insightful betting predictions. His passion for the game and knack for storytelling ensure our readers are always engaged and informed, bringing a unique and expert perspective to every piece he writes.
Publication date : 14.01.2026
Last modified date: 14.01.2026

Frequently Asked Questions

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