The official medals of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were unveiled in Venice. The presentation ceremony was held at Palazzo Balbi, headquarters of the Veneto Region, in the presence of numerous institutional and sports authorities. The design of the medals was entrusted to theIstituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS), the official sponsor of the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The design choice was oriented toward an essential form that emphasizes symbolic rather than ornamental impact. The medals are conceived as two halves, united not only physically but also conceptually, to represent the union between the athlete and all the people who have supported him or her along the path of preparation and growth, as well as the union between the two host cities, Milan and Cortina.
The concept behind the medal aims to express the convergence of experiences and values. The object is not only the recognition of a sports performance, but also a synthesis of shared sacrifices, lived moments and ideals that are embodied in the gesture of competition. From this perspective, the medal becomes a visual metaphor for the interconnection between individual and collective dimensions, serving as a tangible symbol of an achievement that is never just personal.
The Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, founded in 1928 and wholly owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, produced the medals by adopting criteria of environmental sustainability. The coating used is protective, environmentally friendly, non-toxic and recyclable. The energy used in their production comes from 100 percent renewable sources. These elements combine to define an object that, in addition to its symbolic and material value, is intended to be an expression of an environmentally friendly and socially responsible approach.
Attention to every detail not only concerns the medal itself, but also extends to the elements that accompany its delivery. The containers (medalboxes) and trays(medal trays) intended for the award ceremonies will be designed by Versalis (an Eni company), which is an Official Supporter of the Games and already involved in the production of the Olympic and Paralympic Torches. Their design will be conceived to enhance the moment of delivery, which is the culmination of a sporting and personal experience. The desire is to build, also through these objects, a coherent and memorable experience for the awarded athletes.
The design of the medals thus seeks to synthesize in an object of ceremonial and symbolic use the entire universe of meanings that the Games are intended to convey: individual determination, collective support, environmental sustainability, inclusiveness and cooperation. The adoption of simple forms and refined materials aims to create an aesthetic consistent with the contemporary identity of the event, which is intended not only as a sporting event but also as a platform for dialogue between cultures, institutions and communities.
The medals also represent an icon destined to remain in the collective memory, becoming an object of desire and a symbol of sporting excellence. Anyone who has practiced a competitive activity, even if only at an amateur level, can recognize themselves in the value attributed to this recognition. The imagery associated with it transcends the moment of competition to extend to the dimension of dreams, commitment and resilience.
The presentation was attended by President of the Veneto Region Luca Zaia, as guest speaker, and numerous institutional figures, including Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation President Giovanni Malagò and CEO Andrea Varnier. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and Italian Paralympic Committee President Marco Giunio De Sanctis.
To symbolically represent the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics, two emblematic figures of Italian sport were called upon to present the medals: Federica Pellegrini and Francesca Porcellato, both protagonists of multi-decorated careers and representatives of two different sporting paths, but united by the same dedication. Federica Pellegrini, Italy’s most titled swimmer, has won two Olympic medals, including one gold and one silver, as well as eleven medals at world championships, including six golds. Her career, marked by dominance in the 200-meter freestyle for more than a decade, has made her a figurehead for the entire national sports movement. Francesca Porcellato, on the other hand, represents one of the best-known faces of Italian Paralympic sport. Nicknamed “the flying redhead,” she has participated in nine editions of the Summer Paralympic Games, starting from Seoul 1988 to Paris 2024, and three winter editions. Her palmarès includes fourteen Paralympic medals in three different disciplines: athletics, cross-country skiing and handbike, as well as twelve world medals. His presence at the ceremony underscored the Organizing Committee’s desire to reaffirm the unity between the Olympic and Paralympic dimensions of the event.
“The medals we have seen today are a very strong symbol: they tell of the hard work, dedication and the path that every athlete takes to get to the finish line,” says Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto Region. “But they also tell of the silent and fundamental work of those behind the scenes who make all this possible: organizers, volunteers, technicians, artisans and many other irreplaceable protagonists. Milan Cortina 2026 will be a great opportunity for the whole country. Not only sports and entertainment, but also infrastructure, hospitality, promotion, employment. Italy has shown it can be a team player, and these Games are proof of that. Sincere thanks from Veneto to those who work every day with passion and competence to build this event: it is thanks to them that today we can begin to touch the result. The medals are just the beginning.”
“A new and significant step towards what I do not hesitate to call one of the most important events in the sports history of our country. Medals have always been synonymous with the Olympics and concretely represent the value of a truly unique competition,” says Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana. “Just as happened with the flashlights, Olympic medals are also a perfect synthesis of design and tradition, two pivotal elements of the way we Italians think. For superstition’s sake I will not add anything else, but it is clear that the hope is to see them around the necks of athletes wearing the tricolor uniform.”
“The Milan Cortina 2026 medals are more than just awards: they are the beat of the Italian heart, the essence of design that excites, the reflection of a dream taking shape. They encapsulate 2 the identity of a country, its creativity, its passion for sport and beauty,” says Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation. “Each medal, Olympic or Paralympic, is a story etched in metal: it speaks of the hard work, determination, sacrifices and hopes of those who have lived to reach the podium. But it also tells the story of an Italy that believes in the most authentic values of sport. Those who conquer it will bring with them not only the tribute of victory, but also a living fragment of the Italian Spirit, an eternal symbol of what we are capable of dreaming and achieving together.”
Paolo Perrone, President of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, comments, “The medals we have made to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games represent the know-how and excellence of Italian design. Each of these pieces is a unique work, the result of craftsmanship and at the same time of high technological content. The Milan Cortina 2026 medals put the athlete at the center, telling the story of the universality of sport, of hard work and the emotion of victory.”
“The design of the Games medals, developed by the Organizing Committee’s design team, embodies the determination and passion of great athletes from around the world, but also the Olympic and Paralympic spirit,” explains Raffaella Paniè, Brand, Identity and Look of the Games Director of Milano Cortina 2026. “We conceived a medal that represents purity and a return to essence. With our medals we celebrate the strength of differences: two unique halves that come together through the Olympic and Paralympic symbol to create a strong and unified message. A concept that also lives in its surfaces, where the two textures meet and a story written by the athletes begins, but also by all the people who supported them: coaches, teammates, family and fans.”
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| Milan Cortina 2026 Games medals unveiled: a design symbol of unity |
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