As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, Colorado Springs prepares to step into a familiar role as Olympic City USA. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum anchors that effort with its 2026 Museum Games Experience, a month-long series of public programs throughout the competitions that turns the downtown museum into a hub for live viewing, storytelling and community gatherings.
The Olympic Games run from February 6 through the 22nd this year, followed by the Paralympic Games from March 6 through the 15th. During both periods, the museum will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff-activated galleries and public spaces with Games-focused programming will give visitors a shared place to follow international competition while connecting to Team USA athletes and history.
2026 Museum Games Experience
(Last entry 4:00 p.m.)
Colorado Springs has long positioned itself as a domestic home for the Olympic and Paralympic movements, and the museum plays a central role in that identity. During past Games cycles, residents and visitors gathered there to watch events live, participate in special tours and engage with the stories behind the competition. The 2026 Museum Games Experience builds on that tradition by emphasizing daily engagement rather than a single marquee event.
Each day during the Games, museum educators lead Winter Games-focused tours that highlight key Olympic and Paralympic moments, athlete achievements and innovations tied to winter sports. Visitors will also encounter daily artifact demonstrations, where staff use objects from the museum’s collection to connect historic milestones to current competition.
Live viewing anchors the experience. On Friday, February 6, the museum hosts a live watch party for the Olympic Opening Ceremony, included with general admission. Tickets are available at tickets.usopm.org/events .
On Saturday, February 7, the museum expands its reach into the surrounding downtown area with Downtown Winter Fest. Organized in partnership with the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, this free, citywide event features winter-themed activities, live entertainment, food and beverage vendors and Games-inspired programming. Attendees can watch live Olympic coverage both inside the museum and outdoors.
Athlete engagement remains a key component throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organizers schedule athlete meet-and-greet opportunities on weekends during both competitions. While the museum has not yet announced specific participants, the appearances will give fans an opportunity to interact directly with Olympians and Paralympians and learn about their journeys to the Games.
The Museum Games Experience also highlights local creative talent. Colorado Springs sports artist Bernard Sandoval, a member of the Olympic City USA Task Force, conducts live painting demonstrations on February 14 and March 14. Sandoval plans to create Winter Games-inspired artwork in real time, allowing visitors to watch the creative process alongside live competition.
During the Paralympic Games, the museum hosts a dedicated Paralympic Day on Saturday, March 7. The event celebrates the Paralympic Movement through hands-on activities, athlete storytelling and interactive experiences. Museum staff design the day to deepen public understanding of Paralympic sport while spotlighting the impact and excellence of Paralympic athletes.
Museum leadership frames the Museum Games Experience around connection and accessibility. By offering a mix of daily programming, events and free public celebrations, the museum creates an environment where families, students and longtime sports fans engage with the values that define the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
The 2026 Museum Games Experience reinforces Colorado Springs’ role as a year-round center for Olympic and Paralympic culture and a place where the spirit of the Games remains close to home, even when competition unfolds half a world away.