Switzerland Plans Nationwide Winter Olympics for 2038

Switzerland is preparing an ambitious bid to bring the Olympic Winter Games back to the country in 2038, nearly 90 years after it last hosted the event. Under plans presented by the association Switzerland 2038, the Games would be staged across almost the entire country, marking a historic departure from the traditional city-based model.

If successful, Switzerland would become the first nation to host the Winter Olympics on a nationwide basis, with competitions spread across multiple regions and language areas. The proposal also includes the Paralympic Winter Games.

A country-wide Olympic concept

According to organisers, ten cantons and 14 municipalities are directly involved in the project. The concept relies primarily on existing, world-class sports facilities, avoiding the need for large-scale new construction — a key lesson drawn from past Olympic bids that failed due to cost concerns.

The project was launched in November 2023 by national winter sports federations together with Swiss Olympic and Swiss Paralympic. Since then, Switzerland has been engaged in what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) calls a “privileged dialogue,” allowing the country to develop its bid exclusively until the end of 2027.

From Geneva to St. Moritz

Around 120 competitions across more than a dozen disciplines are planned. Proposed host locations include Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Zurich, Zug, Lugano, Engelberg, Crans-Montana, Lenzerheide and St. Moritz. Bern is slated to host both the opening and closing ceremonies, symbolically positioning the capital at the heart of the nationwide event.

The geographic spread is intended to reflect Switzerland’s federal structure and reduce pressure on any single city or region. Organisers argue that this approach aligns with modern expectations of sustainability, regional inclusion and long-term legacy.

Financing and timeline

The total budget for the project — covering the period from the awarding of the Games through to 2038 — is estimated at 2.2 billion Swiss francs. Notably, 82 percent of this funding is expected to come from private sources, with public authorities providing support rather than bearing the main financial burden.

In 2026, the Swiss federal government is set to launch a formal consultation process. This will be followed by a fundamental planning decision and parliamentary debate. The IOC is scheduled to award the 2038 Winter Games in 2027.

A return after nine decades

Switzerland has hosted the Olympic Games twice before, both times in St. Moritz, in 1928 and 1948. A strong bid from Sion failed in 2006, losing out to Turin. Since then, public scepticism toward large sporting events has grown — making the decentralised, cost-conscious approach of Switzerland 2038 central to its political viability.

Whether the nationwide concept will convince both Swiss voters and the IOC remains to be seen. But if approved, the 2038 Winter Olympics could redefine how the Games are hosted — transforming them from a city-based spectacle into a truly national event.