As the 2026 Winter Paralympics begin in Italy, many viewers are asking a simple question: what sports are in the Winter Paralympics?
Unlike the Summer Paralympics, which feature more than 20 sports, the Winter Paralympic Games focus on a smaller group of events played on snow and ice. These competitions showcase elite athletes who combine incredible skill, endurance, and determination.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, taking place from March 6 to March 15, feature six core sports, along with a new event making its debut this year.
Here's a closer look at the sports that make up the Winter Paralympics.
Para Alpine Skiing
One of the most thrilling sports in the Winter Paralympics is Para Alpine Skiing, where athletes race down steep mountain slopes at high speeds.
The sport includes several disciplines:
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Downhill
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Super-G
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Super Combined
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Giant Slalom
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Slalom
Athletes compete in three classifications: standing, sitting, and visually impaired. For visually impaired competitors, a guide skier leads the way down the course using voice communication.
With sharp turns and breathtaking speed, Para Alpine Skiing is often one of the most exciting events of the Games.
Para Biathlon
Para Biathlon combines two very different challenges: endurance skiing and precision shooting.
Athletes race across cross-country skiing trails before stopping at shooting ranges to hit targets with rifles. Missing a target can result in penalties that affect the final race time.
For visually impaired athletes, an acoustic rifle system helps guide their aim through sound signals, allowing them to compete with precision.
The sport demands both physical stamina and intense concentration.
Para Cross-Country Skiing
In Para Cross-Country Skiing, athletes compete across snowy trails in races that test endurance and technique.
Depending on their classification, athletes compete using traditional skis or specially designed sit-skis.
Events range from short sprint races to longer distance competitions, and visually impaired athletes compete with guides who help navigate the course.
Para Ice Hockey
One of the fastest and most physical sports at the Winter Paralympics is Para Ice Hockey.
Players sit on sledges fitted with two blades and move across the ice using specially designed sticks that help them both propel themselves and control the puck.
Despite the adapted equipment, the sport remains incredibly fast-paced and competitive, often delivering some of the most dramatic moments of the Paralympic Games.
Teams compete in a mixed-gender format, and the action can rival traditional ice hockey in intensity.
Para Snowboard
Introduced to the Paralympics at the 2014 Sochi Games, Para Snowboard has quickly become one of the most exciting sports in the Winter Paralympic program.
The sport features events such as:
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Snowboard Cross
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Banked Slalom
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Giant Slalom
In snowboard cross, athletes race simultaneously down a course filled with jumps, turns, and obstacles, creating thrilling head-to-head competition.
Wheelchair Curling
Wheelchair Curling offers a different type of competition, focusing on strategy and precision.
Athletes slide granite stones across the ice toward a circular target known as the house, aiming to place their stones closer to the center than their opponents.
Unlike Olympic curling, wheelchair curling does not involve sweeping the ice. This means athletes rely entirely on accuracy and careful planning.
New Event: Mixed Doubles Wheelchair Curling
The 2026 Winter Paralympics introduce a new event: mixed doubles wheelchair curling.
This format features two-player teams competing in faster-paced matches that emphasize teamwork and strategic decision-making.
The addition expands the curling competition and adds a new dimension to the Games.
The Origins of the Paralympic Movement
The Paralympic Games began after World War II, when sports were introduced as part of rehabilitation programs for injured veterans.
In 1948, the Stoke Mandeville Games in the United Kingdom featured 16 athletes competing in para archery - a small event that eventually grew into the global Paralympic movement.
Today, the Paralympics attract thousands of athletes from around the world, showcasing extraordinary performances from competitors with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments.
More Than Just Sport
While the Winter Paralympics feature only a handful of sports compared to the Summer Games, each event highlights the resilience, courage, and dedication of the athletes who compete.
As the 2026 Winter Paralympics unfold across Italy, these six sports - along with a new curling event - will once again demonstrate that the Paralympic Games are not only about competition, but also about perseverance, inspiration, and breaking barriers.
