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Spotify Wrapped 2025 Is Here: Most Streamed Artists, Songs & Biggest New Features

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Every year at this time, social media gets a little wild. Instagram Stories fill up with music stats, group chats are full of people defending questionable listening habits, and everyone pretends to be surprised to have played the same song over 1,000 times. Whether you love it or not, Spotify Wrapped season is here again.

Spotify just released Spotify Wrapped 2025, giving everyone a detailed look at the songs, artists, albums, podcasts, and genres they listened to most this year. Wrapped is now more than a year-end summary. It has become an online event where people either show off their musical tastes or get called out for them.

This year, Wrapped offers more detailed listening insights, longer story-style recaps, and new AI features to make it feel even more personal. As usual, the streaming rankings are already sparking debates online, with fans comparing stats, cheering for their favourite artists, and wondering how some songs became so popular in 2025.

From top artists in the United States and worldwide to the most-streamed songs and Spotify’s latest features, here’s everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2025.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Spotify Wrapped 2025’s Biggest New Features

This year, Spotify has done more than just show users their top songs and artists. Wrapped 2025 feels more detailed, more personal, and honestly, a bit too aware of people’s listening habits. Along with the usual yearly stats, Spotify has added new community features, more detailed listening summaries, social tools, and AI-powered recaps that keep users exploring their music history much longer than they expected.

And one thing is for sure, Spotify knows exactly why Wrapped became such a massive online phenomenon. People love comparing stats, defending their playlists, and pretending they’re not embarrassed by the random song they accidentally streamed 500 times this year, which is why Wrapped 2025 follows that same energy.

Clubs: One of the most interesting new features this year, Spotify Wrapped 2025 now sorts listeners into six groups based on the mood and overall feel of the music they listened to most. Spotify analyzes songs using mood descriptions before placing users in the Club that best fits their listening style and personality.

Here are the six Spotify Wrapped Clubs:

  • Cloud State Society
  • Grit Collective
  • Club Serotonin
  • Full Charge Crew
  • Cosmic Stereo Club
  • Soft Hearts Club

Each Club is also paired with a listener role based on your habits throughout the year. Spotify assigns titles such as Leader, Curator, Scout, Archivist, Collector, and Loyalist, depending on how you discover music, build playlists, replay artists, or explore new genres. In other words, Spotify Wrapped 2025 now feels less like a simple music recap and more like a full personality assessment built entirely around your playlists.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 | Image: Supplied/Spotify

What Else Is New in Spotify Wrapped 2025?

Beyond the new Clubs system, Spotify Wrapped 2025 also expands the overall experience with more detailed listening reports, more social features, and even more ways for users to focus on their streaming habits. Some additions are genuinely fun, others feel a bit unnecessary, but together they make this year’s Wrapped feel much bigger than a simple “top songs” recap.

Spotify also seems much more focused on making Wrapped a shared experience instead of something users quietly scroll through alone. Between global rankings, AI-created summaries, interactive recaps, and friend-based features, Wrapped 2025 feels designed to keep people comparing stats and posting screenshots across social media for the rest of the month.

  • Listening Age: A new feature that compares the music eras you listen to most with others in your age group. Depending on your playlists, this might prove your music taste is top-notch—or show that you’ve been stuck listening to early 2000s emo music for the last six months.
  • Fan Leaderboard: Fans who spent the whole year replaying one artist can now see how they rank worldwide among other listeners. Listening to music competitively is officially a thing now.
  • Top Albums: For the first time, Spotify Wrapped focuses more on albums than on individual songs, highlighting the records users kept coming back to in 2025.
  • Listening Archive: Using AI, this feature creates mini “music time capsules” from memorable listening days and patterns over the year. Yes, Spotify now remembers your emotional breakdown playlists too.
  • Authors Clips & Podcaster Clips: Writers and podcast hosts can now appear directly inside users’ Wrapped recaps through short personalized thank-you videos and messages.
  • Wrapped Party: A new social feature that lets users compare their Wrapped stats and relive their music year together with friends right inside the app.
  • Expanded AI Recaps: Spotify’s AI summaries now offer more detailed insights into listening habits, mood changes, music “eras,” and streaming patterns throughout the year.
  • Classic Wrapped Features Return: Top Artists, Top Songs, Top Genres, yearly listening minutes, the Top Song Quiz, and the personalized Top Songs 2025 playlist all return, now with better play count tracking.

Of course, even with all the new features, the classic Wrapped stats are still the reason most people open the app right away every year. No one is rushing to check their “Listening Age” first. They want to see their top artist, most-played song, and exactly how many hours they spent listening to music instead of doing something productive.

Based on social media, Spotify Wrapped 2025 has once again turned into a major internet event rather than just a yearly recap. Some users are proudly sharing their stats everywhere, while others are definitely trying to hide certain playlists private from friends.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Global Top Lists | Image: Supplied/Spotify

2025 Wrapped Global Top Lists

Alongside everyone posting their own listening stats online, Spotify has also revealed the artists that dominated streaming worldwide throughout 2025. This year’s global rankings once again show just how massive pop, hip-hop, Latin music, and international artists have become across the platform, with several familiar names returning near the top of the charts.

  1. Bad Bunny
  2. Taylor Swift
  3. The Weeknd
  4. Drake
  5. Billie Eilish
  6. Kendrick Lamar
  7. Bruno Mars
  8. Ariana Grande
  9. Arijit Singh
  10. Fuerza Regida

Bad Bunny reclaimed the top spot globally after another massive year of streaming dominance, while Taylor Swift continued proving she remains one of the most-streamed artists on the planet. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s return to the upper rankings, alongside strong years from Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande, helped shape one of Spotify’s most globally diverse Wrapped lists in recent years.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Songs Globally | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Top Songs Globally

In 2025, the songs people kept playing again and again included emotional pop hits, popular collaborations, K-pop mixes, and late-night breakup songs. From big stadium songs to slower emotional tunes that went viral on TikTok and playlists everywhere, this year’s most-streamed songs matched almost every feeling.

  1. “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
  2. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
  3. “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
  4. “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
  5. “DtMF” by Bad Bunny
  6. “back to friends” by sombr
  7. “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast
  8. “Luther (with sza)” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
  9. “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams 
  10. “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish

From Billie Eilish landing multiple entries in the top ten to Bruno Mars appearing all over the global rankings, Spotify Wrapped 2025 showed just how dominant emotional pop collaborations and viral crossover hits became this year. And honestly, if “Die With A Smile” wasn’t stuck somewhere in your playlist during 2025, you were probably in the minority.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Albums Globally | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Top Albums Globally

  1. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny
  2. KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) by KPop Demon Hunters Cast, HUNTR/X, Saja Boys
  3. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish
  4. SOS Deluxe: LANA by SZA
  5. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
  6. MAYHEM by Lady Gaga
  7. You’ll Be Alright, Kid by Alex Warren
  8. I’m The Problem by Morgan Wallen
  9. GNX by Kendrick Lamar
  10. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny completely led the global album charts this year, with two albums in the top ten. Billie Eilish, SZA, and Sabrina Carpenter showed how emotionally focused pop music is becoming more popular in 2025. At the same time, the unexpected success of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack showed that online fan groups can quickly make almost anything a streaming hit overnight.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Podcasts Globally | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Top Podcasts Globally

Podcasts continued to attract huge audiences throughout 2025, with millions of listeners spending hours each week switching between business tips, comedy, self-help, true crime, long-form interviews, and internet drama. According to Spotify’s global rankings this year, people still enjoy podcasts that feel like natural conversations, are honest, and easy to listen to during long trips, exercise, or late-night phone use.

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
  3. The Mel Robbins Podcast
  4. Call Her Daddy
  5. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
  6. Huberman Lab
  7. Crime Junkie
  8. Modern Wisdom
  9. On Purpose with Jay Shetty
  10. The Tucker Carlson Show

The Joe Rogan Experience stayed at number one worldwide, keeping its huge audience across entertainment, sports, comedy, politics, and internet culture. At the same time, podcasts about self-help and long-form talks—like The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, Huberman Lab, and Modern Wisdom—kept growing in 2025 as listeners became more interested in health, productivity, and lifestyle topics.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Audiobooks In Premium Globally | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Top Audiobooks In Premium Globally

  1. Fourth Wing — by Rebecca Yarros
  2. Lights Out — by Navessa Allen
  3. Iron Flame — by Rebecca Yarros
  4. A Court of Thorns and Roses — by Sarah J. Maas
  5. A Court of Mist and Fury — by Sarah J. Maas
  6. The House of My Mother — by Shari Franke
  7. The Wedding People — by Alison Espach
  8. A Court of Wings and Ruin — by Sarah J. Maas
  9. Quicksilver — by Callie Hart
  10. Great Big Beautiful Life — by Emily Henry

Fantasy romance totally led Spotify’s audiobook charts this year, with Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas taking many spots in the top ten. At the same time, emotional romance stories and popular online recommendations kept audiobooks in high demand in 2025, especially among younger listeners who found books through social media and streaming services.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 U.S. Top Lists | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Spotify Wrapped 2025 U.S. Top Lists

While Spotify’s global rankings showed how much international artists dominated in 2025, the U.S. charts focused mostly on pop, hip-hop, country, and emotional late-night playlists. From top superstars to artists with very loyal fans, this year’s U.S. rankings included names that spent most of the year leading streaming platforms.

  1. Taylor Swift
  2. Drake
  3. Morgan Wallen
  4. Kendrick Lamar
  5. Bad Bunny
  6. The Weeknd
  7. SZA
  8. Zach Bryan
  9. Tyler, The Creator
  10. Kanye West

Taylor Swift again topped the U.S. rankings after another huge year of streaming success, while artists like Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Tyler, The Creator showed how important hip-hop and alternative R&B stayed in 2025. At the same time, Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan helped country music keep its strong streaming growth across the U.S.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Songs in the U.S. | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Songs in the U.S.

  1. “luther (with sza)” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
  2. “Die With A Smile” — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
  3. “Ordinary” — Alex Warren
  4. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” — Billie Eilish
  5. “tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)” — Kendrick Lamar & Lefty Gunplay
  6. “Golden” — HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
  7. “back to friends” — sombr
  8. “Pink Pony Club” — Chappell Roan
  9. “Timeless (feat. Playboi Carti)” — The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
  10. “No One Noticed” — The Marías

Kendrick Lamar had an enormous year across the U.S. charts with multiple songs landing inside Spotify’s top rankings, while Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, and Lady Gaga continued dominating playlists throughout the year. Meanwhile, artists like Chappell Roan and The Marías proved that slower-burning viral tracks could still become some of the biggest streaming songs in the country.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Albums in the U.S. | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Albums in the U.S.

  1. I’m The Problem — Morgan Wallen
  2. SOS Deluxe: LANA — SZA
  3. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny
  4. KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) — KPop Demon Hunters Cast, HUNTR/X & Saja Boys
  5. GNX — Kendrick Lamar
  6. Short n’ Sweet — Sabrina Carpenter
  7. So Close To What — Tate McRae
  8. The Life of a Showgirl — Taylor Swift
  9. One Thing At A Time — Morgan Wallen
  10. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT — Billie Eilish

Morgan Wallen had another massive year across the United States, with two albums landing in the top ten, while SZA, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish continued to pull huge streaming numbers throughout 2025. Meanwhile, soundtrack albums and internet-driven fandoms also played a major role this year, especially with the unexpected rise of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Podcasts in the U.S. | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Podcasts in the U.S.

Podcast listening remained very popular in the United States throughout 2025. People spent hours enjoying comedy, self-help, true crime, politics, health talks, and long interviews. Whether during workouts, road trips, or late-night scrolling, podcasts became an even bigger part of daily life.

Spotify’s U.S. rankings show that listeners still enjoy podcasts with raw, unfiltered conversations that are easy to binge for hours.

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
  3. The Mel Robbins Podcast
  4. Call Her Daddy
  5. Crime Junkie
  6. The Shawn Ryan Show
  7. The Tucker Carlson Show
  8. The Daily
  9. Huberman Lab
  10. Good Hang with Amy Poehler

The Joe Rogan Experience kept its number-one spot in the United States, staying popular across entertainment, sports, comedy, and internet culture. At the same time, shows like Huberman Lab and The Mel Robbins Podcast proved that people are still very interested in wellness, mental health, productivity, and self-improvement.

Comedy and personality-driven podcasts also stayed at the top of listeners’ playlists this year. Shows like This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, Call Her Daddy, and Good Hang with Amy Poehler show that people still love podcasts that feel more like fun, real conversations than polished productions.

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Audiobooks in Premium in the U.S | Image: Supplied/Spotify

Spotify Wrapped 2025 Top Audiobooks in Premium in the U.S.

Audiobooks continued to grow in popularity across the United States in 2025, especially among people who enjoy fantasy worlds, emotional romance stories, and popular BookTok picks. Many now listen to audiobooks just like podcasts or playlists—something always playing during commutes, workouts, flights, or late-night scrolling.

  1. Fourth Wing — Rebecca Yarros
  2. Iron Flame — Rebecca Yarros
  3. Lights Out — Navessa Allen
  4. A Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. Maas
  5. The Fellowship of the Ring — J.R.R. Tolkien
  6. Great Big Beautiful Life — Emily Henry
  7. The Wedding People — Alison Espach
  8. A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J. Maas
  9. The House of My Mother — Shari Franke
  10. Quicksilver — Callie Hart

Rebecca Yarros had a huge year with both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame reaching the top of Spotify’s audiobook charts, while Sarah J. Maas showed her fantasy world still keeps listeners fully engaged. Meanwhile, romance novels, emotional stories, and online recommendations continued to lead the audiobook charts all year.

The Fellowship of the Ring quietly reminds us that no matter how many new fantasy worlds come online, people will always come back to Middle-earth in the end.

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Finland's Wille Karhumaa competes in the men's ski jumping event at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
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The Best Moments from the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

Reading Time: 12 minutes

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With the Olympic Winter Games coming to an end at Milano Cortina 2026, turning moments into unforgettable memories. Over the course of two weeks, the mountains and ice rinks of northern Italy became the stage for record-breaking performances, emotional victories, unexpected heroes, and stories that have reached far beyond the podium. This year, some athletes made history, others inspired millions through perseverance, and still others reminded us why sport has the power to bring people together.

Milano Cortina 2026 had its ups and downs, and heartbreaking moments. There were painful crashes, crushing defeats, and moments that left both athletes and fans speechless. Yet those disappointments were balanced by remarkable comebacks, long-awaited triumphs, performances, and celebrations that will be remembered after the closing ceremony. Whether it was Team USA ending a 46-year wait for hockey gold or Johannes Høsflot Klæbo rewriting the Olympic record books, the Games never ran short of unforgettable moments.

With the Olympic flame now extinguished and attention slowly shifting toward Los Angeles 2028, it’s the stories—not just the statistics—that continue to stand out. Here are the moments that made the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 truly unforgettable.

Team USA celebrates its overtime win over Canada to claim the men's hockey gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Team USA celebrates its dramatic overtime victory over Canada, ending a 46-year wait for Olympic men’s hockey gold at Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: Getty Images – Petr David Josek

1. A Golden Night for Team USA Hockey

For the first time since the famous “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, Team USA won Olympic men’s hockey gold, ending a 46-year wait. The Americans beat their longtime rivals, Canada, 2-1 in a tense final that gave fans everything they wanted. Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime, sending the United States into celebration and adding another unforgettable chapter to one of hockey’s greatest rivalries. It may not have had the Cold War background that made the 1980 win so famous, but it didn’t need to. This was simply two hockey giants fighting for Olympic gold, creating a final that will be remembered as one of the best moments of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

Norway's Sturla Holm Lægreid embraces a teammate after winning bronze in the men's 20 km biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Sturla Holm Lægreid celebrates his bronze medal with an emotional embrace following the men’s 20km biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: Getty Images – Harry How

2. Sturla Holm Lægreid Opens Up After Winning Bronze

Olympic interviews are usually filled with celebrations, reflections on the race, and dreams fulfilled. Sturla Holm Lægreid, on the other hand, took a very different approach. Moments after winning bronze in the men’s 20 km biathlon, the Norwegian stunned viewers by using his post-race interview to publicly admit he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend. Instead of talking about the medal around his neck, he chose to speak about the personal mistake that had weighed on him throughout the Games.

As Sturla Holm Lægreid says, “I told her a week ago, and it’s been the worst week of my life. I had a gold medal in life, and there’s probably a lot of people out there who look at me differently now, but I only have eyes for her. Sports has taken a bit of a back seat these past couple of days. Yeah, I wish I could share this with her.”

The interview quickly transcended biathlon fans, turning into one of the most talked-about moments of Milano Cortina 2026. Although the emotional confession received mixed reactions, it highlighted the immense pressure Olympic athletes face beyond their sport.

Choi Ga-on (Left) and Chloe Kim (Right) celebrate after winning gold and silver in the women's snowboard halfpipe at Milano Cortina 2026.
Choi Ga-on (Left) and Chloe Kim (Right) share a smile after claiming gold and silver, respectively, in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: Getty Images – Patrick Smith

3. Chloe Kim Returns to the Olympic Podium With Silver

Chloe Kim arrived at Milano Cortina 2026 chasing history. A third straight Olympic gold medal in the women’s halfpipe would have seen her match Shaun White’s remarkable record, but it wasn’t to be. Instead, the American snowboard star claimed silver after an outstanding performance, while 17-year-old South Korean sensation Choi Ga-on recovered from a heavy fall in her opening run to produce a stunning final run and capture the gold. Despite falling short of another Olympic title, Kim’s response said just as much about her character as her riding. Having mentored Choi in the lead-up to the Games, she was among the first to celebrate her young rival’s breakthrough, showing the kind of sportsmanship that makes the Olympic Games so special.

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath walks away from the finish area following the men's slalom at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Atle Lie McGrath walks away from the finish area after the men’s slalom, a moment that quickly went viral and captured the emotions of Olympic competition. | Image: Getty Images – Christian Petersen

4. Atle Lie McGrath Walks Away from the Finish

After missing out on first place in the men’s slalom, Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath showed just how much the moment meant to him. Instead of talking to reporters, he left the finish area and walked into the nearby forest, looking for a chance to collect his thoughts away from the noise. The unexpected walk struck a chord with fans, many of whom saw it as an honest reminder of the pressure Olympic athletes face every time they compete. Later, McGrath said, “I thought I would get some peace and quiet, which I didn’t because photographers and police found me out in the woods. I just needed some time for myself.” Not every Olympic moment that stands out ends with a medal ceremony.

Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo celebrates after winning a gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo celebrates one of his six cross-country skiing gold medals, completing a historic clean sweep at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: Getty Images – Kirsty Wigglesworth

5. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo Completes a Historic Gold Medal Sweep

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo came to Milano Cortina 2026 as one of the cross-country skiers and left as a Winter Olympic legend. He won all six men’s cross-country events, making him the first Winter Olympian to earn six gold medals at a single Games. This broke the previous record of five gold medals set by American speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Klæbo’s incredible performance also highlighted Norway’s strength at the Games, as the country topped the medal table with 41 medals.

Alysa Liu competes in the women's figure skating competition at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Alysa Liu captured the women’s figure skating gold medal with a near-flawless free skate, completing one of the most inspiring comebacks at Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: Getty Images – Francisco Seco

6. Alysa Liu’s Golden Comeback

Few stories at Milano Cortina 2026 were as inspiring as Alysa Liu’s. After leaving competitive figure skating in 2022 at just 16, many wondered whether she would return. She did—and in amazing style. The 20-year-old delivered a joyful, almost-perfect free skate to win Team USA’s first Olympic women’s figure skating gold medal in 24 years, making one of the most impressive comebacks of the Games.

Looking down at her gold medal after the competition, Liu summed up her mindset perfectly:”I don’t need this. What I needed was the stage, and I got that, so I was all good. No matter what happened, I would have been fine.”

After finding her love for skating again during her break, Liu’s win felt more important than just the result. Looking back on her path, she said, “I think my story means more to me than anything, and that’s what I will treasure, and this journey has been amazing, and my life has just been—I have no complaints.” Along with teammate Ilia Malinin’s graceful way of handling disappointment, Liu’s words offered strength, perspective, and a sense of enjoyment in the journey far more than medals ever could.

Ilia Malinin competes in the men's figure skating event at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Ilia Malinin falls during the men’s free skate at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, then recovers to finish his performance with a crowd-pleasing backflip. | Image: Getty Images – Francisco Seco)

7. ‘The Quad God’ Ilia Malinin Lands a Spectacular Backflip

Known as the “Quad God,” Ilia Malinin arrived at Milano Cortina 2026 carrying some of the highest expectations of any athlete at the Games. Even after making costly mistakes during the team competition, the 21-year-old still finished with the highest score of the night—a reflection of just how far he has pushed the technical limits of figure skating. As the only skater in the world capable of consistently landing the elusive quad Axel, Malinin performs at a level that few of his rivals can realistically match. Although he opted not to attempt the historic jump during his disappointing free skate, he still brought the crowd to its feet by landing a spectacular backflip, a move that was only recently made legal in international competition.

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates after winning the gold medal in the giant slalom at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates his giant slalom gold medal, becoming the first athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal for Brazil and South America at Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: Getty Images – /John Locher

8. South America Celebrates Its First Winter Olympic Medal

History was made on the slopes when Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won South America’s first-ever medal at the Olympic Winter Games. The Brazilian alpine skier delivered his best performance to win gold in the giant slalom, giving Brazil another reason to celebrate during Carnival and creating a new moment in Olympic history. It was a major achievement not only for Brazil but also for the whole continent, showing that winter sports can succeed far beyond their usual strongholds. Struggling to find the right words after his victory, an emotional Pinheiro Braathen said, “I’ve tried over and over again to put words into what it is that I’m feeling. But it’s simply impossible.” His historic win quickly became one of the key moments of Milano Cortina 2026 and a breakthrough that could inspire many South American winter athletes in the future.

Breezy Johnson wins the gold medal in downhill skiing at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Breezy Johnson wins the gold medal in Downhill Skiing, earning Team USA its first medal at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. | Image: China News Service

9. Breezy Johnson Gives Team USA Its First Medal

Breezy Johnson delivered one of Team USA’s biggest moments at Milano Cortina 2026 by winning gold in the women’s downhill, giving the United States its first medal of the Winter Games. The 30-year-old from Wyoming raced down the course in an impressive 1 minute and 36 seconds, holding off the field to claim the biggest victory of her career. “Lindsey has accomplished so much and will live in a different echelon than I do, but I think that to have your name alongside her is really something special,” Johnson said. It was an emotional day for American skiing following Lindsey Vonn’s heavy crash earlier in the competition, making Johnson’s triumph even more meaningful for Team USA during the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Nazgul the wolfdog runs alongside a cross-country skier at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Nasgul runs alongside a cross-country skier at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 before being safely reunited with his owners. | Image: Getty Images – Terje Pedersen
Nazgul the wolfdog is held by his owner after becoming a viral favourite at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Nasgul is reunited with his owner after winning hearts around the world at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. | Getty Images – Kai Pfaffenbach

10. Nasgul Becomes the Unexpected Star of the Games

During the cross-country skiing events in Tesero, a local wolfdog named Nasgul escaped from his home near the venue and happily joined the race, running alongside the skiers all the way toward the finish. The unexpected appearance quickly won over spectators in the stands and millions more online, with the adventurous pup becoming one of the Games’ most talked-about personalities. After crossing the finish area, Nasgul was rewarded with plenty of well-deserved belly rubs before being safely reunited with his owners. He may not have earned an official medal, but judging by the reaction from fans around the world, he was one of the biggest winners of the Olympic Winter Games.

Tomàs Guarino performs his viral Minion dance at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Spanish figure skater Tomàs Guarino performs his Minions-inspired routine after last-minute music rights issues were resolved ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 | Image: Getty Images / Mike Egerton

11. Tomàs Guarino’s Minion Dance

Tomàs Guarino gave the Olympic Winter Games one of their most unexpected crowd-pleasers. The Spanish figure skater took to the ice wearing a Minions-inspired outfit, complete with the characters’ signature yellow and blue colours, before treating fans to a fun-filled routine that quickly became a talking point. The performance almost didn’t happen after last-minute music rights issues threatened to pull the program, but Pharrell Williams and Universal Music Group stepped in to clear the song just in time. Once Guarino finally skated, the audience loved every second of it.

A Winter Games to Remember

There was plenty for fans to cheer about at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. These Games had a little bit of everything. Record-breaking performances and emotional victories, unforgettable celebrations and unexpected moments. Some athletes made history at the Games, others won hearts with stories that had nothing to do with medals. After the competition and the Olympic flame have gone out, the memories created across northern Italy will last, and that is just why the Winter Olympics are one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

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