The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games will span 22,000 square kilometres across Northern Italy, making use of the region’s existing infrastructure – from iconic mountain venues to Roman amphitheatres and repurposed fairgrounds.

While most of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 venues are existing or temporary, two new permanent competition venues are under construction.

One of these, the Santa Giulia Arena, along with the new Olympic Village, is part of a broader urban regeneration project undertaken by the city of Milan. Designed through a collaboration between Arup and David Chipperfield Architects in Berlin, the Milano Santa Giulia Arena will serve as the centrepiece of Santa Giulia, a redeveloped district in the southeast of Milan, with expected completion in 2034.

“The new Arena will be a major contribution to the public infrastructure of the city, and the result of a collaborative process and enthusiasm from all sides,” says Architect Sir David Chipperfield.

“The form of the building is rooted in Milan’s rich cultural heritage. It echoes the elliptical form of the city’s former Roman amphitheatre, giving a contemporary expression to a historic archetype and creating a new place for gathering and collective entertainment. I look forward to seeing it become an anchor for the new neighbourhood of Santa Giulia and enrich the public realm of the city of Milan.”

The formerly industrial area is being transformed into a mixed-use development featuring residential, commercial, office, retail, and entertainment spaces, with the Arena at its heart.

“We are really excited to celebrate this important milestone to launch the project toward its completion. We have worked closely with CTS Eventim and David Chipperfield to design a spectacular venue which has been conceived with ambitious energy efficiency and sustainability targets,” says Arup Project Director Giammichele Melis.

The Santa Giulia Arena’s architecture echoes the elliptical form of the city’s former Roman amphitheatre, giving a contemporary expression to a historical archetype. Three rings of increasing heights appear to float one above the other, wrapping around the entire building and lending it its dynamic form.

Their metallic materiality is characterised by shimmering aluminium tubes during the day and LED strips that light up at night. Outside, a spacious piazza of over 10,000 square metres will be used as a venue for outdoor events.

In terms of sustainability, the arena will include around 4000 photovoltaic systems on the roof to meet the bulk of the arena’s energy consumption needs. Aligned with circular economy principles, the arena’s design goes beyond carbon reduction to consider the entire lifecycle of the building, prioritising modular and off-site components to reduce site waste and create opportunities for future disassembly and re-use.

During the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, a temporary ice rink will be installed to host the Ice Hockey competitions. After the Games, the multi-purpose venue gives the city a place for collective entertainment that can host up to 16,000 visitors.

After hosting events during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the arena will continue to serve as a venue for large concerts, sports events, and festivals. The expansive outdoor areas will also provide new opportunities for social interactions for both residents and visitors.

The Santa Giulia Arena is poised to become a landmark in Milan, offering a versatile space that blends modern design with sustainable practices, and serving as a vibrant centre for entertainment and community engagement.

Renders by Onirism Studio / supplied

Clémence Carayol

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