Curated in collaboration with Triennale Milano, the official posters for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 were unveiled on October 22. Designed by Italian illustrators Olimpia Zagnoli and Carolina Altavilla, the artworks reflect Italy’s artistic vibrancy while celebrating the human essence of the Games.
ART
Zagnoli, one of Italy’s most recognized illustrators, created the Olympic poster titled Visione Olimpica. Her design presents a close-up of a figure wearing glasses shaped like the Olympic rings, a symbol of vision, connection, and shared energy. The character embodies both athlete and spectator, merging fashion, design, and sport into a single expressive moment. Using saturated colors drawn from the Olympic palette and a retro aesthetic, Zagnoli revisits the visual language of vintage Games posters through a distinctly Milanese lens. “The idea was to celebrate not only the athletes but also those attending the events in all their uniqueness,” she explains.
For the Paralympic Games, Turin-based illustrator Carolina Altavilla designed a digital composition that captures movement and inclusion. Her untitled poster depicts all six Paralympic sports, Para Alpine Skiing, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing, Para Ice Hockey, Para Snowboard, and Wheelchair Curling, with athletes in fluid motion, their gestures alive with energy and grace. The Dolomites’ Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Milan’s Duomo appear in the background, linking nature and city, competition and community. “Paralympic athletes inspired me a lot,” says Altavilla. “I studied their movements closely to represent them in a way that feels true to their experience.”
According to Domenico de Maio, Education & Cultural Director of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, the two posters are meant to be more than visual symbols. “They are a narrative capable of capturing, in a collective iconic image, the spirit and vision of these Games. With these works, we aim to leave a lasting mark, a legacy capable of crossing generations and remaining as a shared heritage.”
Posters have long been a cultural touchstone of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, serving as both artistic record and reflection of each era’s visual language. Over the years, artists such as David Hockney, Robert Rauschenberg, and Rachel Whiteread have contributed to this tradition, transforming the Games into a dialogue between sport and art. Milano Cortina 2026 continues that lineage, placing two Italian women artists at the forefront of its visual identity.
The Iconic Posters of Milano Cortina 2026 will be distributed by OneArt and available for purchase at the Triennale Milano bookshop, via the licensee’s website, and on the official Olympic Shop. Additional retail channels will be announced through Milano Cortina 2026’s institutional platforms.
