The next Paralympic Games will be the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and they officially run from 6 to 15 March 2026, with the Opening Ceremony on 6 March 2026 in Verona, Italy. Some competition (notably wheelchair curling) starts earlier on 4 March 2026.

Quick Scoop: When do the Paralympics start?

  • The 2026 Winter Paralympics official dates are 6–15 March 2026.
  • The Opening Ceremony is on 6 March 2026 at the Verona Arena.
  • Wheelchair curling begins on 4 March 2026 due to its round‑robin format.
  • These Games are the 14th Winter Paralympics and mark 50 years since the first Winter Paralympics in 1976.

So if you’re asking “when do the Paralympics start” in the latest sense right now (early 2026), that refers to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics starting with early play on 4 March and the official Opening Ceremony on 6 March 2026.

Key dates at a glance

  • 4 March 2026 – Start of wheelchair curling in Milan.
  • 6 March 2026 – Opening Ceremony, Winter Paralympics officially begin.
  • 7–15 March 2026 – Full programme of all six winter Para sports.
  • 15 March 2026 – Closing Ceremony in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Think of it as a March festival of para sport in northern Italy, with some early matches before the formal “curtain rises” on 6 March.

What’s trending around this topic

Right now, discussion around “when do the Paralympics start” often comes with:

  • Travel and ticket planning for Italy in early March 2026.
  • Broadcast schedules and streaming guides being updated as the Games approach.
  • Hype about it being the 50th anniversary edition of the Winter Paralympics, adding extra historical weight to these dates.

Fans on forums also talk about how the Paralympics typically follow the Winter Olympics, creating a continuous run of elite winter sport across February and March.

Mini FAQ

  1. Is there sport before the Opening Ceremony?
    Yes. Wheelchair curling starts on 4 March 2026 so that the round‑robin stage can finish in time; this is similar to how some Olympic tournaments begin early.
  1. Do all Paralympic Games last the same number of days?
    No. Past Summer and Winter Paralympics vary a bit in length, but recent editions are roughly around 10–12 days of competition; Milano Cortina 2026 runs 6–15 March officially.

TL;DR: The latest Paralympics on the calendar are the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, which officially start 6 March 2026 (with some events from 4 March) and end 15 March 2026.

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