2026 Winter Olympics Milan Cortina Tops 60M+ Google Searches

2026 Winter Olympics Milan Cortina

🕓 Updated February 9, 2026 — Day 4 of the Games, medal races heating up

This week's dominant Google trend isn't a celebrity scandal or tech launch — it's the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Since Opening Ceremony on February 6, the Games have generated an estimated 60M+ global searches (based on Crazedo's manual country-by-country Google Trends analysis), making it one of the biggest search events of 2026 so far.

With 2,900 athletes competing across 116 medal events in Italy through February 22, search traffic is peaking right now — and if you're in content, SEO, or digital marketing, this is your moment to act fast.

🚀 Search interest has hit 100/100 on Google Trends — the maximum score indicating explosive global demand

How the Search Spike Built — And Where It's Going

The search surge followed a predictable pattern that's still playing out, according to Google's official blog:

Pre-Games (Jan-Feb 5): Steady climb as anticipation built
Opening Ceremony (Feb 6): Explosive spike — Cortina d'Ampezzo at all-time high US search interest
Right Now (Feb 7-13): Peak week with 100/100 Google Trends score during medal events
Coming Soon (Feb 14-22): Sustained high volume through Closing Ceremony
Post-Games (Feb 23-Mar 1): Extended tail traffic for recaps and highlights

Crazedo Insight: We're currently in the absolute peak window. Every day this week is a content goldmine.

Global Search Breakdown: Where the Traffic Is Coming From

According to Google Trends data, search interest is concentrated in these regions:

🇺🇸 United States: Leading global interest
Figure skating and snowboarding dominate, with Peacock streaming driving massive "live stream" queries. Ice hockey has overtaken figure skating as the top-trending Olympic sport in the US, with "hockey players" searches at a 10-year high.

🇨🇦 Canada: Strong hockey engagement
NHL players returning to the Olympics after 12 years = search frenzy. Hockey and curling lead all queries.

🇮🇹 Italy: All-time high search interest
Cortina d'Ampezzo searches at all-time US high, with host country pride driving local venue searches and ticket interest.

🇯🇵 Japan/Asia: Live streaming focus
Japan Consortium broadcasting drives peak Asian viewership, especially for figure skating.

🇬🇧 Europe: Medal tracking
UK and EU focus on real-time medal counts and event schedules via Google Search features.

Expected global TV audience: 2+ billion viewers across all platforms (IOC projection)

Top Search Queries - What's Trending Now

Based on Google's official data, these are the dominant search patterns during the 2026 Games:

Verified Insight: Globally, "Olympic hockey schedule" and "Olympic figure skating schedule" are the #1 and #2 trending event schedules right now.

What's Driving the Searches: Key Trends

🏒 NHL Returns to Olympics (First Since 2014)
Search interest in "hockey players" hit a 10-year high. After a 12-year absence, ice hockey has overtaken figure skating as the top-trending Olympic sport in the US, with fans obsessed about seeing Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and other NHL stars represent their countries.

⛸️ Figure Skating Still Dominates Globally
"Olympic figure skating schedule" ranks as the #2 global trending search. US figure skater Ilia Malinin ("Quad God") drove massive search interest after winning team gold on Day 3.

📺 Streaming Revolution
Peacock leading US streaming with every event live. Google Search now integrates video highlights, medal counts, and real-time updates directly in results — users don't even need to leave Google.

🏂 Drama Drives Traffic
Lindsey Vonn's crash on Day 2 sparked massive search interest, while Breezy Johnson's gold in the same event showed how real-time drama = instant traffic.

Crazedo Insight: This is the most digital-first Winter Olympics ever. Google Trends shows mobile + streaming searches crushing traditional TV viewership patterns.

How to Act Fast: Content Strategy for RIGHT NOW

At Crazedo, we don't just show you the trend — we tell you how to capitalize on it before it fades. Here's your move-by-move playbook:

This Week (Feb 9-13) — Strike While It's Hot

1. "Winter Olympics 2026 Live Medal Count + Predictions"
Real-time trackers win featured snippets. Update hourly if possible. High intent, massive traffic.

2. "NHL Stars at 2026 Olympics: Full Team Rosters"
Crossover audience = new visitors. Target hockey fans who don't normally watch Winter Olympics.

3. "Figure Skating Results Today + Live Updates"
US traffic goldmine. Create daily recap posts with embedded videos and photos.

4. "How to Watch Olympics Free: Streaming Guide 2026"
6M+ people searching for this. Affiliate links to Peacock, VPN services = $$$

Next Week (Feb 14-22) — Sustain the Momentum

5. "Top 10 Snowboarding Highlights Milan Cortina 2026"
Viral potential. TikTok/YouTube Shorts explode during mid-Games.

6. "Olympics Betting Odds: Who's Winning Gold in [Event]"
900K+ searches. Partner with FanDuel, DraftKings ($40+ CPC).

Post-Games Evergreen (Feb 23+)

7. "All-Time Winter Olympics Records Broken in 2026"
Long-tail traffic for years. SEO gold.

8. "Milan Cortina Venue Travel Guide"
Capitalize on Italy tourism interest (lasts 6+ months).

Local SEO Bonus: Create city-specific posts like "Olympics Watch Parties in [Your City]" — low competition, high conversion.

Crazedo Insight: The window is NOW. Content published today gets indexed by Feb 11-12, just in time for peak medal weekend.

Where the Money Is: Monetization Opportunities

Note: Revenue estimates below are based on industry SEO benchmarks and typical affiliate CPC rates during major sporting events.

This isn't just traffic — it's revenue-ready traffic with clear buying intent.

💰 Affiliate Marketing

• Streaming subscriptions: Peacock (official US broadcaster), VPN services (NordVPN, ExpressVPN) for international viewers
• Sports betting: FanDuel, DraftKings (estimated $40-80 CPC during Olympics based on industry standards)
• Sports gear: REI, Nike, The North Face (winter sports equipment trending)

📧 Email List Building
Offer "Free Olympics Schedule PDF" or "Daily Medal Count Updates" → capture emails → monetize later

💵 Display Ads
Peak CPM rates during Olympics. Event-related queries typically command premium ad inventory.

🤝 Brand Partnerships

• Italy travel agencies (post-Games tourism surge expected)
• NHL merchandise (jersey sales spiking with player participation)
• Winter sports brands (snowboards, skis, jackets)

Crazedo Insight: Based on typical SEO performance during major sporting events, well-ranked "Olympics streaming guide" content can generate significant affiliate revenue during the 17-day event window.

People Also Ask: Winter Olympics 2026

These are the exact questions dominating Google right now. Answer these in your content and you'll capture featured snippets.

❓ Where will the Winter Olympics be held in 2026?

The 2026 Winter Olympics are being held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy (February 6-22, 2026). This is the first time two cities officially co-host the Winter Games.

Events are spread across 15 venues in northern Italy:

• Milan: Ice hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating
• Cortina d'Ampezzo: Alpine skiing, curling, bobsled, luge, skeleton
• Livigno: Snowboarding and freestyle skiing
• Val di Fiemme: Cross-country skiing and Nordic combined
• Bormio: Alpine skiing + ski mountaineering (new Olympic sport)

❓ Where will the Olympics be held in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032?

According to the International Olympic Committee:

• 2026: Milan-Cortina, Italy (Winter) — Feb 6-22, 2026 ← WE ARE HERE
• 2028: Los Angeles, USA (Summer) — July 14-30, 2028
• 2030: French Alps, France (Winter) — Feb 1-17, 2030
• 2032: Brisbane, Australia (Summer) — July 23-Aug 8, 2032
• 2034: Salt Lake City, USA (Winter) — February 2034

LA 2028 will be the third time Los Angeles hosts (1932, 1984, 2028). Salt Lake City returns after 2002.

❓ What countries are banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Russia and Belarus are banned as national teams due to the war in Ukraine. However, individual athletes can compete as "Individual Neutral Athletes" (AIN) under strict rules:

Restrictions:

• No national flags, anthems, or team uniforms
• Cannot have supported the war publicly
• No military/security agency affiliations
• Won't participate in Opening Ceremony
• Their medals don't count in official country tallies

Currently 20 athletes (13 Russian, 7 Belarusian) are competing as AIN across eight sports, including figure skater Adeliia Petrosian.

❓ How much are tickets for the Winter Olympics in 2026?

Official ticket prices range from budget-friendly to premium:

Affordable Options:

• Starting at €30 ($33) for preliminary hockey
• 20%+ of tickets under €40 ($44)
• 57%+ of tickets under €100 ($110)

Popular Events:

• Opening Ceremony: €260-€2,026 ($287-$2,234)
• Figure Skating: €292-€735 ($322-$811)
• Men's Hockey Final: €450-€1,400 ($496-$1,545)
• Closing Ceremony: Up to €3,000 ($3,300) premium

Total Trip Cost: According to TIME Magazine, budget travelers can attend for under $3,000 (5 nights):

• Airfare from US: ~$730
• Accommodation: $129-$300/night
• Event tickets: €30-€500+ per event

Get tickets at tickets.milanocortina2026.org.

Crazedo's Final Take: What This Trend Means

The 2026 Winter Olympics search explosion is a masterclass in predictable traffic surges. Unlike celebrity scandals or tech launches that spike unpredictably, the Olympics follow a known calendar — which means you can plan content weeks in advance.

Key Lessons:

1. Event-based traffic is the most reliable traffic — use it to build email lists for long-term value
2. Cross-sport content wins — NHL + Olympics = audience you don't normally reach
3. Real-time content beats evergreen during events — daily updates > static guides
4. Mobile + streaming queries dominate — optimize for "how to watch" over "what is"

The Opportunity Window:

• Now through Feb 22: Peak traffic, act daily with medal updates
• Feb 23-Mar 1: Recap traffic, build evergreen assets
• Mar 2+: Long-tail "best moments" and "records broken" content

Bottom Line: With Google Trends at 100/100 (maximum score), the Olympics are generating massive search interest right now. If you're not publishing Olympics content today, you're leaving substantial traffic on the table.

At Crazedo, we'll be tracking how this trend evolves through Closing Ceremony and what comes next. Stay tuned for next week's #1 Google trend every Monday.

Track Live Data Yourself

Want to see real-time search trends? Google has created a dedicated 2026 Winter Olympics Trends page where you can track:

• Top trending sports by country
• Athlete search interest over time
• Event schedule queries
• Regional breakdowns

Pro tip for SEOs: Embed Google Trends iframes in your Olympics content for instant credibility and real-time data updates.

Data & Methodology

Search volume estimates in this article are based on original research conducted by Crazedo, combining:

Primary Research:

• Manual country-by-country analysis of Google Trends data (0-100 scale)
• Aggregated search interest across USA, Canada, Italy, Japan, UK, and EU markets
• 60M+ total searches estimate derived from combining regional Google Trends scores with historical Olympic search patterns

Supporting Data:

• Google Trends 100/100 score indicating maximum search interest
• Verified insights from Google's official Olympics blog
• Historical benchmarks from 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
• IOC's projected 2+ billion global TV audience

Methodology: We analyzed Google Trends data for "Winter Olympics 2026" and related queries across major markets (US, Canada, Italy, Japan, UK, EU), then extrapolated total search volumes based on each region's population and search penetration rates.

For real-time verified data, refer to Google Trends, official Olympics.com, or Google's Official Olympics Blog.

Research conducted by: Crazedo Analytics Team
Last updated: February 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST

Sources

• Official Milano Cortina 2026 Website
• Olympics.com - Daily Results & Highlights
• CNN - Olympics Live Updates
• NBC Olympics Venue Guide
• Team USA Milano Cortina 2026
• IOC Future Olympic Games
• Newsweek: Countries Banned from 2026 Olympics
• CBS Sports: Russia/Belarus Ban Details
• Official Ticketing Portal
• TIME: Cost of Attending 2026 Olympics
• Sports Illustrated: Future Olympics Locations