The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Italy after Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo were selected as hosts.

The Milan-Cortina bid saw off the challenge of Stockholm-Are in a vote at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday.

The Italian bid received 47 votes to the Swedish effort's 34, the IOC said, easily clearing the 41-vote threshold to win. 

Cortina staged the 1956 Games, while Italy last held the Winter Olympics in 2006, when Turin was the venue.

"Congratulations to Milan-Cortina. We can look forward to an outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

"The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world.

"The Olympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina 2026 will feature iconic venues and beautiful settings, combining the attractions of a modern European metropolis with a classic Alpine environment."

Several cities had previously dropped out of the running, even though the IOC relaxed rules over financial guarantees and government support for 2026.

"We have lowered the cost and complexity of developing Games projects, which now serve the long-term development goals of the host communities and have sustainability and legacy at their hearts," Bach added. "This has led to a significantly reduced organization budget and the use of 93 percent existing or temporary competition venues."

Beijing will stage the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympics.