Things to look forward to in the Paralympic Movement in 2026
Discover the key milestones for the Paralympic Movement in 2026, from the Milano Cortina Winter Games to World Championships and regional events that you don't want to miss this year 02 Jan 2026
As the new year begins, 2026 promises to be an exceptional year for the Paralympic Movement. From the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games to major international championships, this year will showcase athletic excellence on the global stage.
Here are some of the highlights to look forward to in 2026:
Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
From 6 to 15 March, Italy will host its first Paralympic Winter Games since Torino 2006. Athletes from around 50 countries are set to compete in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.
The Opening Ceremony will take place at the iconic Arena di Verona, setting the stage for an unforgettable event. Competitions will be held across three clusters, all with beautiful scenery: Milan for Para ice hockey, Val di Fiemme for Para biathlon and cross-country skiing and Cortina for alpine skiing, snowboard, and wheelchair curling.
Milano Cortina 2026 will also mark a historic moment for wheelchair curling. The mixed doubles tournament debuts on the Paralympic programme, 20 years after the sport made its Paralympic debut at Torino 2006.
World Championships in summer sports
With two years to go until the LA28 Paralympic Games, World Championships this year will offer a preview of what fans can expect in Los Angeles. We cannot wait to see some of the biggest stars from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games competing for world titles.
The action kicks off early in the year with the Bahrain BWF Para Badminton World Championships, which is set to take place from 8-14 February.
August and September are packed with major tournaments. The World Wheelchair Rugby Championships will be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil, from 15-24 August, while the Seoul 2026 World Boccia Championship in the Republic of Korea takes place from 24 August-4 September.
World Championships in Para canoe, wheelchair basketball, Para triathlon, Para rowing, Para equestrian and shooting Para sport are scheduled to take place throughout August and September, making 2026 an exciting year for summer sports.
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games
From 18 to 24 October, the Asian Para Games will feature 18 sports and will bring together the region's top athletes.
An expected 3600-4000 athletes from the 45 Asian National Paralympic Committees are compete in the same venues that will be used in the Asian Games a few weeks before. This will be the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, which is the biggest Para sport event after the Paralympic Games.
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games will return with its largest-ever Para sport programme, featuring 47 medal events across six Para sports: Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para swimming, 3x3 wheelchair basketball, Para track cycling, and Para bowls.
Taking place from 23 July to 2 August, Glasgow 2026 will showcase a fully integrated Para sport programme, with a total of over 200 gold medals awarded during 10 days of competition.
Ready to follow the action? Stay tuned for more stories from the Paralympic Movement on our website
