The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will introduce Ski Mountaineering, a sport making its official Olympic debut for the first time in 28 years. This event, also known as Ski Mo, marks a significant addition as the last new sport was Skeleton at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Ski Mountaineering combines uphill climbing on skis with downhill racing, utilizing special skins attached to the base of skis to help athletes ascend steep terrains before transitioning to downhill skiing.

The competition consists of events like the men's and women's sprints along with a mixed team relay, with gold medals available for each. The sprint races are set to take place on January 19 at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, and are expected to be highly competitive, showcasing the athletes' efficiency in ascents and their skill in quickly attaching and detaching skins to maximize performance. Notable competitors include Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll and France's Thibaut Anselme in the men's category, and France's Emilie Aroff in the women's category, all of whom have shown strong performances in pre-Olympic events.