One month ahead of the host city election, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released the report by the Evaluation Commission for 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games which featured IPC Governing Board member Muffy Davis.

The report provides a thorough assessment of the two candidates, Stockholm-Åre and Milan-Cortina*, following the working visits on 12-16 March and 2-6 April respectively, and analyses of the candidature files and additional documentation submitted. It will serve as a guide for the IOC Members before they vote on 24 June at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Chair of the Evaluation Commission, Octavian Morariu, said: “Both projects prioritise legacy and sustainability by capitalising on winter sports tradition and experience, with first-rate, established World Cup venues, knowledgeable and passionate fans, volunteers and event organisers. They have fully embedded the Olympic Agenda 2020 philosophy, and have athletes at the centre of their plans.”

He added: “The two candidates have aligned their concepts with their context and local long-term goals. All of this led to massive cost savings and a more sustainable hosting model that is the new reality for the Games.”

The Candidate Cities 2026 plan to use on average over 80 per cent existing or temporary venues, compared to 60 per cent for the 2018 and 2022 Candidates.

As a consequence, their proposed Games operating budgets are on average 20 per cent lower than those of the Candidate Cities for the Olympic Winter Games 2018 and 2022.

The Candidature Process 2026 has been built on greater partnership, flexibility and sharing of knowledge. Featuring a new one-year non-committal Dialogue Stage, the IOC, supported by the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, worked hand-in-hand with Interested Cities and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to help them explore options and develop Games projects.

As part of the new process, the IOC provided increased technical services to each Interested City, while lowering the number of Candidate City deliverables and presentations. More than 20 Olympic Games experts supported the Cities in the development of their Games concepts, through the provision of over 30 on-site individual services, including several workshops.

The result is a significant cost reduction in the candidature budgets, which are projected to be over 75 per cent lower than the average budgets for the 2018 and 2022 Candidates.

The Candidate Cities 2026 have publicly expressed their appreciation for the new reforms, and cited them as a major factor in their decision to apply to host the Games.

The Cities have the right of response to the report. Any additional information received by the Evaluation Commission will be shared with the IOC Members ahead of the election.

On 24 June, the IOC membership will have the opportunity to hear from the Commission and the Candidate Cities, which will include detailed question-and-answer sessions during a technical briefing in the morning. In the afternoon, the Candidate Cities will make a final presentation during the 134th IOC Session, before the vote and the host city announcement.

* Cities are listed in the order of drawing of lots as performed by the IOC Executive Board.

The full IOC report by the Evaluation Commission for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is available online.