There are 93 countries (National Olympic Committees) participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, plus a group of “Individual Neutral Athletes” not competing under a national flag.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • 93 recognized NOCs are in the 2026 Winter Games.
  • Over 3,500 athletes are expected to compete in 16 Winter Olympic sports.
  • Some athletes from Russia and Belarus are competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) due to ongoing IOC sanctions, so they are not counted as separate “countries” in the tally.

Wait, why not 200+ countries?

When people ask “how many countries are in the Olympics,” they’re usually referring to how many National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are competing at a specific Games, not how many countries exist in the world.

  • The IOC recognizes over 200 NOCs in total, but not all qualify or send athletes every edition.
  • For the Winter Olympics, the number is much smaller because fewer nations have strong winter-sport programs or cold-weather infrastructure, which is why 2026 has 93 NOCs rather than 200+.

Winter vs. Summer Olympics

  • Summer Olympics: Typically see over 200 NOCs participating, close to the full IOC membership.
  • Winter Olympics: Historically involve far fewer countries; recent Winter Games have ranged around 80–95 NOCs, and 2026 lands at the higher end of that range with 93.

Example to picture it

At the Milano-Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony, you’ll see 93 national teams march in during the Parade of Nations, plus a separate delegation of neutral- status athletes (AIN) who walk under the Olympic flag instead of a national flag.

TL;DR: For the current edition of the Games, if you’re asking “how many countries are in the Olympics,” the answer is 93 countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics , plus neutral athletes not counted as a country.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.