LET IT SNOW: Recent Games used renewable energy to power their snow machines, like this one at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

WU DIANSEN/VCG VIA GETTY IMAGES

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No Snow? No Problem!

Italy is hosting the 25th Winter Olympics. Here’s how it’ll make sure the athletes have plenty of snow—even if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

January 19, 2026
By Isobel Whitcomb

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT the differences between natural and machine-made snow.

JIM MCMAHON/MAPMAN®

This February, athletes from around the world will gather in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Starting on February 9, skiers will zip down frigid mountain slopes and race for miles cross-country. Snowboarders will weave through complex courses and perform tricks off massive jumps. The main requirement for these events? Snow!

But snowy weather isn’t guaranteed. Sometimes the Games are held in places that don’t consistently receive enough of the powdery stuff. In other places, climate change has made the chances of snowfall less reliable. That’s why the Olympics turn to artificial snow. It’s made using machines that spray droplets of water, which freeze before hitting the ground.

This February, athletes from around the world will head to the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Some skiers will zip down frozen mountain slopes. Others will race for miles cross-country. Snowboarders will fly through complex courses. They’ll perform tricks off massive jumps. The main requirement for these events? Snow!

But snowy weather isn’t guaranteed. The Games are held in different places. Some of them don’t consistently get enough snow. Others that usually get snow have been affected by climate change. Now the chances of snowfall there aren’t as certain. That’s why the Olympics turn to artificial snow. It’s made by machines that spray droplets of water. They freeze before hitting the ground.

ALEXIS BOICHARD/AGENCE ZOOM/GETTY IMAGES

HIT THE SLOPES: U.S. skier Mikaela Shiffrin competes during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in China.

Unlike natural snow, which falls as delicate crystals, machine-made snow forms tiny balls of ice. “Natural snow feels fluffy and soft,” says Peter Veals, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah. “With artificial snow, you feel every bump.” Surprisingly, many Olympians prefer the fake stuff. Its smoother texture creates less friction when skis or snowboards rub against it. That helps the athletes slide even faster, allowing them to pull off high-flying stunts and speed along the slopes.

Artificial snow is also firmer and more consistent than natural snow. That makes it safer and more predictable for athletes. “They can turn harder, faster, and without fear that the snow will give way or cause them to slide out,” says Veals. Even when there’s natural snow on the ground, snow machines are often used to create the best possible conditions for sporting events. Thanks to artificial snow, the Games can go on!

Natural snow falls as delicate crystals. But machine-made snow forms tiny balls of ice. “Natural snow feels fluffy and soft,” says Peter Veals, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah. “With artificial snow, you feel every bump.” But many Olympians prefer the fake stuff. It has a smoother texture. So when skis or snowboards rub against fake snow, it creates less friction. That helps the athletes slide even faster. Then they can pull off high-flying stunts and speed along the slopes.

Artificial snow is also firmer and more consistent than natural snow. So it’s safer and more predictable for athletes. “They can turn harder, faster, and without fear that the snow will give way or cause them to slide out,” says Veals. Often, snow machines are used even when natural snow is on the ground. They create the best possible conditions for sporting events. Thanks to artificial snow, the Games can go on! 

KENNETH LIBBRECHT

NATURAL VS. ARTIFICIAL: Natural snowflakes (left) form inside clouds, as water droplets freeze into six-sided crystals. Artificial snowflakes (right) are smooth and rounded.

HOW ARTIFICIAL SNOW IS MADE

Here’s how giant machines, sometimes called “snow cannons,” create snow on demand.

Here’s how giant machines, sometimes called “snow cannons,” create snow on demand.

SCIENCE WORLD

A compressor pumps air into the machine. The air is under high pressure—it is being pressed together with a lot of force.

A compressor pumps air into the machine. The air is under high pressure—it is being pressed together with a lot of force.

A stream of water flows into the machine.

A stream of water flows into the machine.

Air shoots out of the compressor, blasting the stream of water into tiny droplets.

Air shoots out of the compressor, blasting the stream of water into tiny droplets.

As air leaves the compressor, it changes from high pressure to low pressure. When this happens, the gas rapidly cools. This causes the water droplets to form tiny balls of ice.

As air leaves the compressor, it changes from high pressure to low pressure. When this happens, the gas rapidly cools. This causes the water droplets to form tiny balls of ice.

A fan blows the ice out of the machine. The air outside must be below water’s freezing point—the point at which a liquid becomes a solid—of 0°C (32°F) for the snow to remain frozen.

A fan blows the ice out of the machine. The air outside must be below water’s freezing point—the point at which a liquid becomes a solid—of 0°C (32°F) for the snow to remain frozen.

HOW ARTIFICIAL SNOW IS MADE

Here’s how giant machines, sometimes called “snow cannons,” create snow on demand.

Here’s how giant machines, sometimes called “snow cannons,” create snow on demand.

SCIENCE WORLD

A compressor pumps air into the machine. The air is under high pressure—it is being pressed together with a lot of force.

A compressor pumps air into the machine. The air is under high pressure—it is being pressed together with a lot of force.

A stream of water flows into the machine.

A stream of water flows into the machine.

Air shoots out of the compressor, blasting the stream of water into tiny droplets.

Air shoots out of the compressor, blasting the stream of water into tiny droplets.

As air leaves the compressor, it changes from high pressure to low pressure. When this happens, the gas rapidly cools. This causes the water droplets to form tiny balls of ice.

As air leaves the compressor, it changes from high pressure to low pressure. When this happens, the gas rapidly cools. This causes the water droplets to form tiny balls of ice.

A fan blows the ice out of the machine. The air outside must be below water’s freezing point—the point at which a liquid becomes a solid—of 0°C (32°F) for the snow to remain frozen.

A fan blows the ice out of the machine. The air outside must be below water’s freezing point—the point at which a liquid becomes a solid—of 0°C (32°F) for the snow to remain frozen.

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