2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics – Italy

Original publication date: December 22, 2025

Updated: December 22, 2025

Key points

• Expect large crowds; this can increase your risk of illness and injury.
• Reduce health risks by practising good hand hygiene, avoiding contact with sick people, and eating/drinking safely.
• Know where to access medical care and carry emergency contact information, including details for Canadian offices abroad.
• If you feel sick during or after travel, wear a mask, limit contact with others, and notify health professionals about your symptoms and travel history.

Current situation

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place February 6-22, followed by the Paralympic Games from March 6-15, in northern Italy.

Learn more:
Milano Cortina 2026
Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Recommendations

Before you leave

Talk to a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably about 6 weeks before your departure date to get personalized health advice. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it’s still worthwhile to make an appointment.

Discuss with the health care provider:

• whether your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Many require a booster as an adult
• which pre-travel vaccines or medications may be right for you
• the medications you're currently taking or planning to bring with you

Review the Italy travel advice page and any current travel health notices for the most up-to-date information and advice.

Travel health notices
Italy travel advice

Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

Register as a Canadian Abroad

Pack a travel health kit and consider purchasing travel insurance.

Travel health kit
Travel insurance

Learn more:
Tips for healthy travel

During your trip

Be prepared for emergencies

• The risk of accidental injury increases in large crowds (e.g., stampedes).
• If possible, avoid very crowded areas.
• Know where to find medical care if needed.
• Carry information about any existing medical conditions.

The Government of Canada’s offices abroad can assist Canadian citizens in case of an emergency. Carry the contact information for the nearest Canadian office. The Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa is open 24/7.

Embassy of Canada to Italy, in Rome
Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Clean your hands regularly

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases

Practise food and water precautions

• The most common illnesses among travellers are caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites or viruses.

Eat and drink safely abroad

Protect yourself from person-to-person infections

You can reduce your risk of getting or spreading respiratory infections by:

• staying away from others if you’re sick
• wearing a well-fitted mask, especially if you're not feeling well
• covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, not your hands

Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures

Abide by local laws

Visit the Government of Canada's Travel Advice and Advisories page for the most up-to-date information on laws and culture in Italy.

Italy – Laws and culture

Learn more:
Tips for healthy travel 
Travel outside Canada
If you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada or after your return

Returning to Canada

If you begin to feel sick during your travel back to Canada, you should:

• put on a well-fitting respirator or mask, if possible
• limit contact with other people, if possible
• inform the flight attendant or a border services officer as soon as possible. You may be referred to a quarantine officer for a health assessment and further direction.

If you begin to feel sick after you return to Canada:

• limit contact with other people
• call a health care provider and notify them about your symptoms before an in-person appointment, so they can take proper precautions, if necessary
• tell the health care provider where you have travelled

Learn more:
If you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada or after your return