how often do the winter olympics happen
The Winter Olympics happen every four years, on a regular repeating cycle, in even‑numbered years offset from the Summer Games.
How Often Do the Winter Olympics Happen?
Quick Scoop
- The Winter Olympics are held once every four years.
- Since 1994, they alternate with the Summer Olympics, so there is usually a major Olympics every two years (Summer, then Winter, then Summer, etc.).
- The next Winter Games after Beijing 2022 are scheduled for Milan–Cortina 2026.
Think of the Winter Olympics as a “quadrennial” event: they return like clockwork, every four years, with snow, ice, and a fresh round of records and stories.
A Bit of Background
- The Winter Olympic Games started in 1924 in Chamonix, France, and were originally held in the same year as the Summer Olympics, every four years.
- In 1986, the IOC decided to separate the schedules so that Summer and Winter Games would alternate, each still on its own four‑year cycle.
- The first Winter Games held in a different year from the Summer Games were in Lillehammer in 1994, two years after the 1992 Albertville Winter Games.
Current Pattern (With Dates)
- Winter Olympics: every four years (e.g., 2018 Pyeongchang, 2022 Beijing, 2026 Milan–Cortina).
- Summer Olympics: also every four years, but staggered two years apart from the Winter Games (e.g., 2016, 2020/2021, 2024).
- This staggered pattern keeps a global Olympics event in most even‑numbered years, which helps broadcasters, sponsors, and fans keep attention on the Olympic brand more regularly.
Forum / “Trending Topic” Angle
In forum discussions, people often get confused because they remember a time when Winter and Summer Olympics seemed closer together.
Users sometimes recall that as kids they thought the Winter Games happened “every two years” relative to the Summer Games, because of the switch in the early 1990s (1992 then 1994).
A typical post goes something like: “Wait, didn’t we just have a Winter Olympics? Why is there another one?”—and then someone explains the 1992–1994 shift and the alternating pattern.
There is also renewed chatter as the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, with news outlets and blogs re‑explaining the four‑year cycle and why it feels like the Games “come around so fast.”
Key Facts Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| How often do the Winter Olympics happen? | Every four years. | [9][1][3]
| Since when are Winter & Summer in different years? | Since the 1994 Winter Games (IOC decision in 1986). | [3][7][9]
| Spacing between Summer and Winter now | Usually two years apart (e.g., Summer 2024, Winter 2026). | [5][7][9]
| Next Winter Olympics | Milan–Cortina 2026, scheduled for 6–22 February 2026. | [3][5]
SEO Bits (Meta Description)
The Winter Olympics happen every four years, on a fixed cycle, with Winter and Summer Games now staggered two years apart. Learn how often the Winter Olympics happen, what changed in 1994, and why this has become a trending forum discussion and latest news topic around the build‑up to Milan–Cortina 2026.
TL;DR: The Winter Olympics are held every four years, in even‑numbered years, alternating with the Summer Games so that there is usually a major Olympics every two years.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.