As we approach the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 faster than expected, Team Canada and Lululemon have officially unveiled the collection that Canadian Olympians and Paralympians will wear on one of sport’s biggest stages. The collection was unveiled during a special Toronto event last month and offers the first real glimpse of what Team Canada will look like when athletes arrive in Milano Cortina, Italy, next February. For competitors, seeing the uniforms for the first time made the Games suddenly feel much closer.

“You know when you meet someone new and you put a face to the name? This is like putting a kit to the Olympics,” said Olympic gold-medal-winning freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe. “Everything we’ve been anticipating about going to Milan feels really real now that we know what we’re wearing.” It’s easy to understand why. While the Games are ultimately about competition, the uniforms become part of an athlete’s Olympic story, appearing at opening ceremonies, medal celebrations, team photos, and some of the most memorable moments of their careers.

The Milano Cortina 2026 collection has been designed to support athletes through every stage of the Olympic and Paralympic experience. For the Opening Ceremony, Team Canada athletes will wear close-fitting warming layers paired with an oversized quilted vest featuring a bold maple leaf stretched across the front. The versatile piece can also be styled as a scarf or wrapped around the waist, offering both function and a distinctive look.

When it’s time to step onto the podium, athletes will be outfitted in a striking red puffer jacket, lined with a water-repellent mesh and detailed with a topographic map pattern inspired by Canada’s landscape. For the Closing Ceremony, the collection moves away from the traditional sea of red, introducing icy blue-green tones inspired by the frozen waters and winter scenery of Canada’s north.

Milano Cortina 2026 marks the third Olympic Games partnership between Team Canada and Lululemon, and this time, the athletes had a stronger voice than ever. Feedback from Olympians and Paralympians played a major role throughout the design process, helping create a collection built around comfort, performance, and the realities of competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

“Two of the things that were constantly on our mind were where we’re going and where we’re from,” explained Lululemon Design Director Catherine Lebrun. “We’re from Canada and going to Milan, so what would that look like and how can we blend the two together? You’ll see that in the colours—deeper, darker reds—and also in the materials: matte taffeta, shinier finishes, and wool are all inspired by Milan. For Canada, we went with a big maple leaf and the brightest red for the podium.”

Finding the right balance between style and practicality was a major focus of the design process. The team made thermoregulation a top priority so athletes would stay comfortable, whether walking in the city, standing outside during ceremonies, or competing in cold mountain settings. Lessons from past Olympics played a big role in these choices. Sharpe remembered times when athletes stood on medal podiums in freezing weather with little protection, and that feedback helped shape the new collection.

Accessibility was another important consideration. The collection includes a variety of adaptive features to support Team Canada’s Paralympians, such as magnetic zippers, garments designed for seated fits, pull-on loops for outerwear, and braille messaging on some pieces. Instead of making separate items, Lululemon built inclusivity into the main collection so more athletes can wear and use the apparel comfortably during the Games.

Just as important as performance was creating something that immediately feels Canadian. Olympic uniforms have always served as a symbol of national identity, helping athletes stand out among thousands of competitors from around the world. For Sharpe, that sense of recognition matters as much as the technical features.

“When you look into the sea of people, and you’re recognized by your country, and what you’re wearing, it’s huge for people in Canada to be able to say, ‘Those are our Canadians,’” she said. “It’s an honour to walk in an opening or closing ceremony; it’s a very special time, so to be wearing something you’re comfortable and confident in is beautiful.”

What makes this collection particularly appealing is that many of the pieces aren’t limited to Olympic ceremonies. While statement items like the podium jacket and Opening Ceremony vest will undoubtedly grab headlines, the broader collection includes hoodies, T-shirts, shorts, sweatsuits, and outerwear designed to fit seamlessly into everyday life.

Sharpe is already looking forward to doing exactly that. Living in Squamish, British Columbia, she knows a thing or two about unpredictable weather and appreciates how practical many of the garments are beyond competition. “I’m wearing these pants, and the top layer is waterproof while the back is stretchy,” she said. “These are going to be great dog-walking pants. I live in Squamish, and it rains all the time, so these are perfect. There are obviously these huge statement pieces, but there’s also a nice sweatsuit, plus shorts, T-shirts and hoodies. They’ve thought of every detail, and everything is very wearable outside.”

With less than a year remaining until the Olympic flame is lit in Italy, the unveiling of the Team Canada x lululemon collection serves as another reminder that Milano Cortina 2026 is quickly approaching. More than just a set of uniforms, the collection reflects the athletes who will wear it—built around performance, comfort, inclusivity, and Canadian pride. When Team Canada steps onto the world stage next February, they’ll do so wearing a collection designed to represent not only where they’re going, but where they come from.