Milano Cortina 2026 Medals: How They Were Created and Their Value

The official medals for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were presented. The event took place at Palazzo Balbi, the seat of the Veneto Region, with the participation of important institutional representatives and two athletes who are symbols of Italian sport: Federica Pellegrini and Francesca Porcellato. The two athletes, ambassadors of the Olympic and Paralympic world, unveiled the new medals, produced by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS) .

An essential design to tell the story of the company

The medals' design was conceived to express a sense of unity and dedication. Two halves come together to form a coherent whole, symbolizing the coming together of athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers. The Organizing Committee wanted to create an object that represents not only sporting victory, but also the shared journey to achieve it. Raffaella Paniè, Brand Director of Milano Cortina 2026 , explained: "With our medals, we celebrate the strength of differences: two unique halves that unite through the Olympic and Paralympic symbols to create a strong and unifying message."

The medals are produced with sustainable materials and processes . The coating is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and recyclable, while the energy used comes exclusively from renewable sources. Each piece is designed to combine aesthetics and environmental friendliness. The medal boxes and trays, made by Versalis (Eni), were also designed to enhance the awards ceremony experience, completing the event's visual identity.

The numbers of the medals

For the Olympic Games, 245 medals will be awarded for each metal, while for the Paralympic Games, the number will be 137 for each type. In total, 1,146 medals will be awarded. All medals have a diameter of 80 mm and a thickness of 10 mm. The gold medals are made of 999 silver plated with 6 grams of 999.9 gold; the silver medals are entirely made of 999 silver; the bronze medals are made of copper. Their weight varies from 420 to 506 grams depending on the metal.

• 506 gr for the gold ones;
• 500 gr for silver;
• 420 gr for bronze medals (made of copper).

The value of the Milano Cortina medals

In terms of materials, a gold medal contains approximately 6 grams of pure gold on a 999 silver base, for an estimated market value of around 1,050 euros . A silver medal is worth around 500 euros , while a bronze medal, composed primarily of copper, is worth only a few euros.

Typically, however, actual production costs are much lower, but no official figures have been published. Obviously, the symbolic value is inestimable for an athlete and a fan, and sometimes it also depends on who won the medal and at what time in history. The most striking example is Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. One of these awards sold at auction for over $1.4 million, approximately €1.2 million .