Luge’s popularity has been growing ever since debuting at the 1964 Winter Olympics and history will be made at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, with five events being contested for the first time.
Dates
The Luge programme at this year's Games gets under way with the men's singles on Saturday 7th February and concludes with the team relay on Thursday 12th February.
Events
There are a total of five Luge events on the schedule, with the women's doubles debuting in 2026.
It means there will be 16 medals up for grabs for the first time.
Men's events
Men's Singles
Men's Doubles
Women's events
Women's Singles
Women's Doubles
Mixed events
Team Relay
Format
The Luge is the fastest sport at the Winter Olympics with competitors hitting speeds of over 90mph when hurtling down an ice track, which is expected to be 1,478 metres in length for the men's singles and 1,278 metres for the women's singles at the 2026 Games.
At the start line, the Luger sits up on the sled, holding two small bars on either side. Slowly building momentum by rocking forward and back, the Luger then thrusts forward and paddles with spiked gloves to gain extra speed before lying down.
In an aerodynamic position with their head up to see where they are going, the Luger steers using their shoulders and calf muscles and is aiming to get down to the finish line in the quickest time.
For the men's singles and the women's single, each competitor has four runs and the winner is the person with the fastest total time.
In the men's and women's doubles, two athletes ride together with the heaviest on top. Each team gets two runs and the fastest total time determines the winner.
As for the team relay, this combines women's singles, men's doubles, men's singles and women's doubles in one race, and in that order.
Once the first leg of the race is completed, the Luger slaps a pad at the bottom which then opens the gate for their teammate. This process goes on until all four sleds cross the finish line. Again, the winning team is the one with the quickest time.
Venues
The Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, which was built specifically for the 2026 Winter Olympics, will host the Luge, along with the skeleton and bobsled.
The track is named after Italian bobsled legend Eugenio Monti, who won 10 World championship medals (nine gold) and six Olympic medals including two golds.
History
Luge originated in the health-spa town of St Moritz, Switzerland, in the mid-to-late 19th century and was first introduced to the Winter Olympics at the 1964 Games in Innsbruck, Austria.
There were three events in total - the men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles.
It was not until the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia when a fourth event was competed for, the team relay.
The 2026 Games will see the debut of the women's doubles.
Team GB Luge prospects
Team GB have no representatives in the Luge at the 2026 Games.
Team GB Luge medals
Team GB have never won an Olympic medal in Luge, coming closest at the 1980 Games in Lake Placid, New York when Derek Prentice and Christopher Dyason finished 14th in the men's doubles.
