The International Olympic Committee has three official candidates to host the 2026 Winter Games and a new timetable to pick the winner.

Sun and clouds on the snowy peaks of Dolomites seen from the terrace of the Rifugio Lagazuoi Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo: IC)

The 2026 Olympics contest is between Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; and the combined Italian bid of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo after IOC members formally backed the bids recommended last week by their executive board.

A fourth contender, Erzurum in Turkey, was dropped by the board last week amid concern about high spending on essential projects.