Expo per lo Sport 2026 in Milan: Free Sports, Families, and Eurosport Village at Parco Sempione

Conceived in 2015 as a legacy project of the Universal Exposition, the annual initiative has expanded significantly over the past decade. Recent editions have regularly drawn upward of in media oltre 24.000 partecipanti. The event relies on a strong institutional network spanning the City of Milan, regional authorities in Lombardy, national bodies including CONI and CIP, Sport e Salute, and the Fondazione Milano-Cortina 2026.

Schools Open the Weekend at Parco Sempione

The program kicks off on Friday, September 25, with a dedicated day for education. More than 60 primary and middle school classes from Milan and the surrounding metropolitan area descend on Parco Sempione for hands-on athletic sessions rather than traditional classroom instruction. Students bypass lectures to try out various disciplines directly under professional guidance.

On Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, the Discovery Park opens to the general public free of charge. Young visitors can move through multi-sport circuits designed to help them sample different activities and identify which sports align with their interests. The Saturday schedule also features a dedicated basketball tournament tailored for young adults.

More Than 30 Sports on Display

The catalog of activities bridges mainstream traditional sports and less common disciplines through practical demonstrations, training circuits, and exhibition matches. American football features a specialized passing circuit, while its non-contact counterpart, flag football, focuses on agility and defensive strategy without physical tackles. Additional offerings include rhythmic gymnastics, grass volleyball, mountain biking routes, roller skating, fencing, track and field, military dynamic gymnastics, and badminton.

Water sports maintain a prominent footprint at the event, offering introductory rowing and sailing sessions alongside dedicated simulators. For younger children, multi-sport modules provide an accessible introduction to physical movement and coordination.

Education and Student Well-Being

Beyond physical exertion, Expo per lo Sport integrates educational programming through a partnership with the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (UniSR). Operating under the banner “Shoot for your future,” Casa UniSR sets up an institutional hub at the Arco della Pace to welcome students and families.

University representatives emphasize the mental health benefits of physical activity during transitional academic phases. Professor Andrea Fossati, dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele, notes that entering university often coincides with heightened stress levels and reduced physical movement. Exercise helps students manage anxiety, build resilience, and support cognitive learning processes. The institution’s programmatic approach aims to prevent academic burnout by fostering personal well-being alongside social and cultural engagement.

Additional educational features include nutrition workshops focused on healthy lifestyles, alongside safety and traffic education initiatives hosted in collaboration with the Italian State Police (Polizia Stradale) near the historic Centrale Elvezia.

Eurosport Talent Village Returns

The weekend schedule also incorporates the fourth edition of the Sport&Fun Experience Village, organized by media partner Eurosport. Starting daily at 10:00 local time, attendees can interact directly with prominent winter sports figures, including Olympic figure skater Valentina Marchei and alpine skier Francesca Marsaglia. Cycling analysts Riccardo Magrini, Moreno Moser, and Luca Gregorio, alongside former tennis professionals Paolo Canè and Jacopo Lo Monaco, participate directly within the activity zones across Parco Sempione and the Arco della Pace rather than observing from behind barriers.