Press Accreditation - Milano Cortina 2026
As the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 rapidly approach, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is pleased to announce that the media accreditation process has officially begun.
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have been formally notified of their respective press accreditation quota allocations. In line with standard procedure, media professionals who wish to cover the Games are required to contact the NOC in the country where their organisation is based to apply for accreditation.
The allocation and distribution of press accreditations within each country are managed by the respective NOC.
Press accreditations for the Olympic Wnter Games Milano Cortina 2026
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established a quota of “E” (press) accreditations for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which will be distributed by the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to press organisations in their country.
The total quota has been set at 3,000. In order to ensure a high level of service for the world’s press, the IOC maintains a strict accreditation quota. Press accreditation for the Olympic Games is allocated only to media professionals who meet the criteria in the accreditation category table below. Publishers, advertising or athletes’ agents, influencers, government ministries, and public relations or promotion agents are not eligible for E accreditations, unless approved by the IOC.
Written and photo press wishing to apply for press accreditation for Milano Cortina 2026 should contact the National Olympic Committee in the country in which their organisation is based. Click here for the contact details of your NOC. The allocation of press accreditations within a country is the responsibility of the National Olympic Committees. It is not the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee or the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee.
Starting from the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the accreditation process for non-Media Rights-Holders (radio/television organisations) (non-MRH) will be managed by the IOC in consultation with the NOCs. Further details on this process can be found in the ENR section of this page.
The press accreditation process for Milano Cortina 2026 has officially started, when the IOC officially notified all National Olympic Committees of their press accreditation quota allocations.
IMPORTANT KEY DATES
- July 2024: The IOC notified all NOCs of their press accreditation allocation for Milano Cortina 2026
- July – October 2024: Media wishing to apply for press accreditation for Milano Cortina 2026 should contact their relevant NOC
- Week commencing 7 October 2024: Milano Cortina 2026 distributes the Press by Number accreditation forms and related press publications to NOCs
- 19 to 22 November 2024: Milano Cortina 2026 World Press Briefing
- 7 February 2025: Deadline for NOCs to return the completed Press by Number forms to Milano Cortina 2026 and inform the press organisations within their territory of their accreditation allocations
- Week commencing 9 June 2025: Milano Cortina 2026 distributes the Press by Name materials to NOCs that have returned their Press by Number forms
- 23 June 2025: Online system for Press by Name applications opens for NOCs and directly accredited media organisations
- 12 September 2025: Deadline for NOCs and directly accredited organisations to return the Press by Name forms to Milano Cortina 2026, listing the names of each press representative they have agreed to accredit
- November 2025: The Milano Cortina 2026 Accreditation Department distributes the Pre-Valid Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards (OIACs) to National Olympic Committees to send to their press organisations and to directly accredited media organisations
- No later than 6 January 2026: Beginning of the validity period for the OIAC (exact process TBC)
- 6 to 22 February 2026: Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
Accreditation Category
Please see below the description for each press accreditation category:
E
- JOURNALIST: Journalist, editor or photo editor, employed or contracted by an international or national news agency, a general daily newspaper, or a sports newspaper, magazine or internet site; a digital journalist; or an independent or freelance journalist under contract
Es*
- SPORT-SPECIFIC JOURNALIST: Journalist specialising in a sport on the Olympic Games programme, meeting the same criteria as established for category “E”
(*not used for the Winter Games)
EP
- PHOTOGRAPHER: Photographer meeting the same criteria as established for category “E”
EPs*
- SPORT-SPECIFIC PHOTOGRAPHER: Photographer specialising in a sport on the Olympic Games programme, meeting the same criteria as established for category “E”
(*not used for the Winter Games)
ET
- TECHNICIAN: Technician, meeting the same criteria as established for category “E”
EC
- SUPPORT STAFF: Support staff (office assistant, interpreter, etc.). Access to Main Press Centre (MPC) only. Assigned only to press groups or organisations that have reserved a private office space in the MPC
ENR
- NON-MEDIA RIGHTS-HOLDERS (Non-MRH): Member of a non-Media Rights-Holders organisation. (radio or television organisation). ENR accreditations are allocated by the IOC in consultation with the NOC. It is strictly prohibited for an NOC to grant a member of a non-MRH organisation any type of E accreditation
NOC E
- PRESS ATTACHE: Press attaché assisting the athletes for their media activities during the Games and/or producing written content for the NOC’s website
NOC Es*
- PRESS ATTACHE: Press attaché assisting the athletes for their media activities during the Games, covering a single sport and/or producing written content for the NOC’s website
(*not used for the Winter Games)
Non-Media Rights-Holders
A limited quota of press accreditations is reserved for non-Media Rights-Holders (non-MRH).
It should be noted that these accreditations are for non-MRH ( television and radio organisations only). Independent film/documentary makers, production companies and content creators do not fall under this category and are not accredited by the IOC.
Non-MRH are not allowed to take professional video equipment into Olympic venues and cannot film, record or broadcast from within Olympic venues, as outlined in the News Access Rules. Accredited non-MRH are permitted to take professional video equipment into the Main Press Centre (MPC) and use it there, and may broadcast all or portions of press conferences that take place in the MPC. Before receiving an ENR accreditation, non-MRH must indicate their acceptance of the Television and Radio News Access Rules for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 by signing an undertaking. Without the signed undertaking, accreditation will not be granted.
If you are a non-MRH and you are interested in covering the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, please read the following information carefully.
For Milano Cortina 2026, interested non-MRH organisations that wish to cover the Olympic Games should now apply to their respective NOCs for ENR accreditation. The NOCs will then evaluate their applications and will send their priority list to the IOC.
Once all requests have been received from each individual NOC, the IOC will review all the applications and will take the final decision on the non-MRH organisations to be accredited based on a pre-determined overall quota. The IOC will then confirm to the NOC their approved non-MRH applicants. The NOC will in turn notify the non-MRH organisation of the final decision.
As mentioned earlier, the quota in this category is very limited, and not every non-MRH organisation that applies to their NOC for accreditation will receive it. Strict timelines will apply, and the window for non-MRH organisations to apply to their respective NOCs is from 9 October to 8 November 2024. No late requests will be considered. The NOCs will be notified of the IOC’s decision by 15 January 2025.
The NOC will be the Responsible Organisation for the remainder of the Press by Name process starting on 9 June 2025. The Press by Name forms will be sent by the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee to the NOCs, which will complete them on behalf of the accredited non-MRH and press organisations. The forms should be returned by the NOCs to the Organising Committee by 12 September 2025. The list of key dates can be found below.
For further questions, please contact media.operations@olympic.org
IMPORTANT KEY DATES
- By September 2024: If NOCs have non-media rights-holders (non-MRH) in their territory that would like to apply for ENR accreditation, they should tell the non-MRH organisations to express their interest to the NOC by this date.
- 9 October – 8 November 2024 - Non-MRH application process: On 9 October 2024, the IOC distributes the non-MRH application form to NOCs for them to submit a long list of recommended non-MRH, if applicable, to the IOC for approval. Submissions must be made by 8 November 2024. Strict timelines apply. Given the limited number of accreditations in this category, late submissions will not be accepted.
- By 15 January 2025 - Non-MRH approval: The IOC informs the NOCs of the approved non-MRH organisations in their territory (if applicable), including the number of accreditations allocated to each organisation, by 15 January 2025. The NOC notifies the accredited non-MRH organisation of the decision. The NOC informs the accredited non-MRH organisations about the process for reserving press accommodation through Milano Cortina 2026.
- Date To Be Confirmed: Every non-MRH organisation that is accredited has to sign an undertaking to agree to abide by the News Access Rules. The IOC will send the undertaking to the confirmed non-MRH organisations and will make sure that this is returned to the IOC by the prescribed deadline. The exact dates will be confirmed as soon as the News Access Rules for Milano Cortina 2026 have been confirmed by the IOC.
- Week commencing 9 June 2025: Milano Cortina 2026 distributes the Press by Name materials to NOCs that have non-MRH accredited organisations
- 23 June 2025: Online system for Press by Name applications opens
- 12 September 2025: Deadline for the NOCs to return the Press by Name forms to Milano Cortina 2026 listing the names of each non-MRH representative that are accredited.
- September/October 2025: Milano Cortina 2026 reviews and confirms the data on the Press by Name accreditation applications received from the NOC on behalf of the non-MRH organisations.
- November 2025: The Milano Cortina 2026 Accreditation Department produces the Pre-Valid Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards (OIACs) and sends them to the NOCs for them to dispatch to their ENR-accredited organisations. These Non-Media-Rights Holders organisations should have signed the ENR Undertaking before the OIAC is distributed.
- No later than 6 January 2026: Beginning of the validity period for the OIAC (exact process TBC).
- 6 February 2026: Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Accreditation for media organisations based in Italy is allocated by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), and your organisation should contact them, not the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee or the IOC. For journalists working abroad (for example in a bureau) but with their organisation based in another country, accreditation must be requested by their head office from the NOC of the country in which the organisation is based.
If you are granted a media accreditation and adhere to the accreditation timelines, you will receive an Olympic Identity and Accreditation Card (OIAC) before the Games. Please refer to the instructions from the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee Accreditation Department regarding visa information.
If your press accreditation is confirmed, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee will send you a media accommodation guide detailing the accommodation options that are available for accredited press only. It should be noted that strict deadlines apply for reserving press accommodation.
The News Access Rules apply to television and radio broadcasting by non-Media Rights-Holders. Accredited ENR organisations can access all competition venues and the Main Press Centre, but under specific conditions, as outlined in the News Access Rules.
The News Access Rules are designed to protect the exclusivity of broadcasters that have paid for rights, while permitting fair access for non-Media Rights-Holders to broadcast news highlights for news purposes.
The News Access Rules clearly outline the rules that apply to coverage by non-Media Rights-Holders, as well as venue access rules and restrictions within the host city. If your organisation is granted an ENR accreditation, it is obliged to sign an undertaking, on behalf of the organisation and all persons accredited by the organisation, to abide by the News Access Rules.
Non-Media Rights-Holders are not allowed to take professional video equipment into Olympic venues, or film, record or broadcast from within Olympic venues, as outlined in the News Access Rules. Accredited non-rights-holders are permitted to take professional video equipment into the Main Press Centre (MPC) and use it there, and may broadcast all or portions of press conferences that take place in the MPC.
When media numbers exceed the seating capacity of the venue media facilities, typically at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the finals sessions of ice hockey and other specific events or competition sessions, these “High-Demand Events” will be ticketed for the written and photo press.
The allocation and distribution of tickets to the press for High-Demand Events is implemented digitally by IOC Media Operations. The IOC distributes the High-Demand Event tickets to selected delegates from the National Olympic Committees who are responsible for the allocation of tickets to their accredited press. The specific events that will be ticketed and the related process will be announced closer to the Games.
Accredited ENR organisations may qualify for tickets for High-Demand Events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Press accreditations are not transferable and can only be issued to one person to cover the Games.
Further information is available on the Milano Cortina 2026 Press Operations extranet:
https://milanocortina2026.olympics.com/it/press-operations-extranetPlease contact the Milano Cortina 2026 Press Operations team for further information at pressoperations@milanocortina2026.org