The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics have finally arrived. And if you're like us, simply watching the action isn't gonna cut it. That's why the editorial team at NBC Olympics has put our heads together for a list of 100 ways to fully immerse in the Olympic, and Italian, experience.

To get in the spirit of the Milan Cortina Games, here are 10 Italian food favorites to make or pick up from a favorite restaurants to try:

1. Make a morning shot of espresso
2. Try a Nutella cookie or pastry
3. Explore different pasta recipes
4. Make pasta from scratch
5. Try a local pizza place
6. Make your own pizza at home
7. Make a Milanese risotto
8. Make a charcuterie board with Italian meats and cheeses
9. Make a homemade tiramisu
10. Try a new flavor at your local gelato spot 

What's the worst part of any Olympic competition day? When it ends, of course. To pass the time until the action resumes the next morning, try watching any of these Olympic-inspired TV shows and movies (some of which are on Peacock!) to get hyped for the Games:

1. “Chasing Gold: Milan Cortina 2026”
2. “Cool Runnings” (1993)
3. “Nancy & Tonya” (2014)
4. “Miracle” (2004)
5. “Meddling” (Miniseries, 2022)
6. “Blades of Glory” (2007)
7. “Mighty Ducks 2” (1994)
8. “The Cutting Edge” (1992)
9. “The Crash Reel” (2013)
10. “Olympic Dreams” (2019)

The Winter Olympics are all about embracing the outdoors and taking advantage of the season. Here are 10 ways to enjoy those snowy and cold February days:

1. Build a snow fort and have a snowball fight
2. Bake team-themed cookies
3. Make a snow angel (or draw the Olympic rings!)
4. Try ice skating at a nearby rink
5. Take a snowboarding lesson
6. Go skiing (Alpine or cross-country)
7. Go sledding (Pretend you’re Elana Meyers Taylor)
8. Settle down with a large cup of hot chocolate
9. Visit a holiday market with your family
10. Build a snowman that looks like your favorite athlete

For athletes, fueling their bodies is an essential part of their routine and performances. Here are 10 snacks that top U.S. athletes consume to stay energized during training and before competitions:

1. Eat oatmeal with ten blueberries (like Alex Ferreira)
2. Drink a skinny iced caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso (like Amber Glenn)
3. Enjoy a carbonara or Bolognese pasta (like Chloe Kim)
4. Munch on pizza (like Declan Farmer)
5. Snack on one or two Hershey bars (like Ilia Malinin)
6. Bake superhero muffins (like Jessie Diggins)
7. Have some cheesecake (like Jordan Stolz)
8. Try some Cajun chicken alfredo (like Kaysha Love)
9. Make a peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese sandwich (like Nick Goepper)
10. Pick out some red or blue sour patch kids (like Breezy Johnson)

The Winter Olympics and Paralympics have seen some incredible athletes, many of whom have unique and compelling backgrounds. Take a look at these books authored by some of the greatest Winter Olympians and Paralympians in preparation for watching them in Italy:

1. “Rise: My Story” by Lindsey Vonn
2. “The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph” by Oksana Masters and Cassidy Randall
3. “Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday” by Apolo Ohno
4. “Miracle in Lake Placid: The Greatest Hockey Story Ever Told” by John Gilbert
5. “99: Stories of the Game” by Wayne Gretzky
6. “On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life” by Amy Purdy and Michelle Burford
7. “Picabo: Nothing to Hide” by Picabo Street and Dana White
8. “One Jump at a Time: My Story” by Nathan Chen
9. “Shaun White: Airborne” by Shaun White
10. “Brave Enough” by Jessie Diggins and Todd Smith

They are incredible to watch during competitions, but even elite athletes need to relax every once in a while. Here are 10 ways to unwind like an Olympian or Paralympian, and maybe even pick up a hobby to master:

1. Watch “How To Train Your Dragon” (like Ilia Malinin)
2. Watch “The Office” (like Maddie Mastro)
3. Listen to an audiobook and knit (like Breezy Johnson)
4. Binge TV (like Aaron Pike and Oksana Masters)
5. Practice photography (like Alysa Liu)
6. Spend time outdoors (like Declan Farmer)
7. Play board games (like Erin Jackson)
8. Go fishing (like Jordan Stolz)
9. Do crafts projects (like Kristen Santos-Griswold)
10. Play a musical instrument (like Mikaela Shiffrin)

With a history littered with spectacular moments, it’s hard to keep up with all the lore that goes into an Olympic competition. However, here are 10 clips that should be watched to prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games:

1. Here comes Diggins!
2. Flashback to Vancouver: USA vs. Canada men's hockey OT final
3. Chloe Kim throws down 94-point run to win halfpipe gold
4. Sochi 2014: Kotsenburg's creative run wins slopestyle gold
5. Ligety shines in Olympic ski racing gold medal wins
6. Vancouver 2010: Lindsey Vonn captures Olympic downhill gold
7. PyeongChang 2018: Ledecka stuns field for super-G gold
8. U.S. women find hockey redemption with PyeongChang gold
9. Now or never: Shaun White looks back at golden redemption
10. Monobob: USA's Humphries, Meyers Taylor go one-two in finish

Athletes really are just like us, and some love following or creating social media trends. Here are nine athletes (and one technical team) to follow to see all the antics Team USA gets up to in the lead up to the Games:

1. Alex Ferreira
2. Hilary Knight
3. Ilia Malinin
4. Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe (Cool Laps & Hot Takes)
5. Caroline (KK) Harvey
6. Kristen Santos-Griswold and Corinne Stoddard (Fast but unstable)
7. U.S. tech team (Alpine)
8. Nick Goepper
9. Campbell Wright
10. Red Gerard

Everyone knows that Olympians are the greatest athletes in the world. While making an Olympic team is incredibly difficult, here are 10 exercises to try to train like an Olympic athlete:

1. Push a pickup truck (like Sadie McMullen)
2. Build an obstacle course (like Aleksander Aamodt Kilde)
3. Build a halfpipe course in your backyard (like Red Gerard)
4. Practice skiing on different terrain no snow necessary (like Andri Ragettli)
5. Treadmill sprints with a dumbbell (like Katie Uhlaender)
6. Slide side to side (like Brittany Bowe)
7. Practice handstands (like Mikaela Shiffrin)
8. Practice neck spins (like Mystique Ro)
9. Rollerblade (like Jessie Diggins)
10. Circuit train (and nap) (like Chloe Kim)

Still looking for more to get in the Olympic and Paralympic mood? Give these 10 activities a try:

1. Practice some Italian phrases
2. Get to know the host venues
3. Learn a new national anthem
4. Book a ski trip (or find your nearest local hill)
5. Take a look at the top 100 storylines going into the Games
6. Practice waking up at the crack of dawn to catch the action live
7. Organize a watch party with your friends (bonus points for Italian snacks)
8. Pick an underdog (country or athlete) to follow and support in Italy
9. Choose a new sport to become an expert in (and teach friends)
10. Stay up to date with NBCOlympics.com for news, highlights and previews for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics