Does the thought of traveling to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics overwhelm you? The long plane ride. The crowded airports. The time-zone difference. Catching transportation to all the venues. Long lines to the best restaurants. Long line to the worst restaurants.
Oh, and it is super expensive.
Well, if you want an alternative to traveling to the actual games, Salt Lake City is extending a unique invitation.
Downtown Salt Lake City Will Transform Into an Olympic Viewing Party
While the city eagerly awaits its turn to host the 2034 Winter Games, a massive celebration is set to ignite downtown Salt Lake City starting on February 6 and throughout the 2026 Winter Games.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced that the city will host a first-of-its-kind watch party for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, inviting Team USA fans from across the nation and the world to experience the excitement together.
The free, family-friendly event aims to recapture the unifying energy of the 2002 Games and offer a preview of the spectacle to come in 2034.
The Salt Lake City Events are Open to Everyone
Standing before a backdrop of red, white, and blue balloons, Mayor Mendenhall extended a heartfelt invitation:
“Salt Lake City wants to host all of Team USA’s fans, family and friends to watch every single night of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina right here outside of Washington Square. Whether you live in rural Utah, live in the state of Maine or Washington state, if you’re a Team USA fan who lives in Brazil — if you’re not heading to Italy … you need to be here with us.”
The plan is to transform Washington Square and Library Square into a vibrant hub of Olympic fandom every night of the Games. For many Utahns, especially a younger generation that has grown up since the city last held the Olympic flame, this will be their first taste of the magic.
Attendees can look forward to a dynamic festival atmosphere with something for everyone. Key features of the event will include:
- Giant screens livestreaming Olympic and Paralympic events daily.
- A diverse lineup of food trucks offering local flavors.
- Engaging family programming and activities for all ages.
- Live music, bands, and performances.
- Special appearances by current and former Olympians and Paralympians.
- Comfortable warming areas to escape the winter chill.
Make no mistake, Utah has some money to make this generous invitation possible. The 2002 Winter Olympics had a huge impact on Utah’s economy, generating an impressive $7.5 billion in economic output (adjusted for 2023 inflation). When the Games ended, there was a $163 million surplus and even a $76 million endowment to keep the Olympic venues running for years to come.
Igniting the Next Generation
Money aside, organizers hope the events will stir the same passion that swept through the city years ago during lead-up events before the 2002 games. Catherine Raney Norman, chair of the 2034 Organizing Committee’s Athletes’ Commission, highlighted the unique opportunity to “propel the next generation of athletes” while gaining Olympic fans for life.
That sentiment was echoed by Tristan Gale, who won a gold medal in skeleton at the 2002 Games. She recalled attending a similar viewing party back in 1995 when Salt Lake City was first announced as the host. “The Olympic spirit is so catchable,” she said.
Gale believes some of the children attending the 2026 watch party could be the very athletes competing for glory in 2034. As the countdown to 2034 continues—just over 3,000 days away—Salt Lake City is proving its Olympic legacy is about the past, present, and future.
