Milano Cortina 2026: Introduction to wheelchair curling

Ready to dive into the thrill of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games?

From 6–15 March 2026, the world’s best athletes will compete for glory in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

Each day, we take a closer look at the six sports featured in the programme and answer all your questions ahead of the Paralympic Games. Today, we’re covering everything you need to know about wheelchair curling. 

What is wheelchair curling?

Wheelchair curling is a Paralympic sport that requires teamwork and precision. In wheelchair curling, two teams compete by sliding the heavy granite stones down the ice to get as close as possible to the centre of the “house”.

The sport is played by athletes with physical impairments in the lower part of the body. Athletes deliver stones from a seated position and their teammates can hold their wheelchair for stability.

A delivery stick is used to push the stone into motion. There is no sweeping so once the stone is released, its path is set. So the shots require a significant level of accuracy.

Wheelchair curling is also a game of strategy. Strategies can include: blocking their opponents, aiming for the centre, and full takeouts.

Two medal events will be staged at Milano Cortina 2026. In the mixed team event, there are four active players and one alternative. Each game as eight rounds, also known as “ends”. Both teams deliver eight stones per game, one at a time, taking turns.

The mixed doubles event will make its Paralympic debut. Each game has eight ends, with each team delivering five stones per end. Two stones are pre-positioned at the start of the end to create immediate action.

Wheelchair curling at Milano Cortina 2026

Paralympic wheelchair curling competitions will return to Italy, where the sport was first contested at the Winter Games. Competition will start on 4 March, two days before the Opening Ceremony, running until 14 March at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

Hosts Italy will play the first wheelchair curling game of Milano Cortina 2026, facing the Republic of Korea in the mixed doubles round robin. The mixed doubles medal games will be held on 11 March, while the mixed team medal matches will take place on 13 and 14 March.

Mixed doubles event (4-11 March)

Eight teams are set to compete in the inaugural Paralympic mixed doubles event:

Italy

Republic of Korea

The United States of America

China

Japan

Latvia

Great Britain

Estonia

Mixed team event (7-14 March)

The tournament will feature 10 teams at Milano Cortina 2026:

Italy

China

Canada

Republic of Korea

Norway

Sweden

Great Britain

Slovakia

The United States of America

Latvia

Brief history of wheelchair curling

Wheelchair curling made its Paralympic debut at Torino 2006, and since then, the mixed team event has been a fixture at every Winter Games.

Canada has been the sport’s most consistent powerhouse, earning a medal at every edition. They struck gold in Torino 2006, Vancouver 2010, and Sochi 2014, before adding bronze in PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

In recent years, China has risen to dominance, claiming back-to-back titles. They captured their first gold in 2018 by defeating Norway, then beat Sweden in the gold medal match on home ice at Beijing 2022.

So far, seven nations have shared the podium in wheelchair curling. Among its legends, Canada’s Sonja Gaudet stands out as the most decorated athlete, boasting an incredible three Paralympic gold medals.

Five facts about wheelchair curling

1. Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium will stage all 81 wheelchair curling matches during Milano Cortina 2026. Located in the heart of the Dolomites, the stadium was built for the Cortina 1956 Olympic Winter Games and will host Paralympic events for the first time. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony will also take place here.

2. Curling has been known as the ‘Roaring’ Game because of the ‘roar’ coming from the sound of a granite stone as it travels over the ice.

3. Hosts Italy will return to the Paralympic Winter Games for the first time since Vancouver 2010. Egidio Marchese is preparing to compete at a home Games again, after competing at Torino 2006, Italy’s first-ever Paralympic Winter Games.

4. Japan currently holds the world mixed doubles title and is set for a highly anticipated comeback to Paralympic wheelchair curling with its first appearance since Vancouver 2010. Fans will be eager to see if the reigning world champions can bring that same magic to the Paralympic ice.

5. Estonia and Latvia made their Paralympic wheelchair curling debuts at Beijing 2022. Discover what Estonia's Katlin Riidebach and Ain Villau are looking forward to at Milano Cortina 2026. 

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org