Utah is preparing to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games, enhancing its infrastructure and visitor experiences to welcome the world to experience the state’s awe-inspiring outdoor adventure in 2026 and beyond.
Aussies may know Utah’s capital Salt Lake City as the training ground of some of Australia’s winter Olympians, and its unmatched access to world-class outdoor recreation makes it a premier winter sports destination.
In fact, Alisa Camplin and Steven Bradbury won Australia’s first Winter Olympic gold medals at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Utah’s Olympic legacy is similarly strong with 35 per cent of all US winter Olympians having ties to the state.
Utah Office of Tourism Associate Managing Director Dave Williams said the state’s unique blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop for visitors ahead of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games.
“Utah’s love affair with winter sports lasts nearly 100 years, but it was in February 2002 that we captured the world’s imagination,” he told international travel media, including Karryon, at IPW 2026.
“Today, that flame burns brighter as we prepare for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games.
“We’re proud of our Olympic legacy – 35 per cent of our nation’s winter Olympians call Utah home. They were either born here, trained here or studied here.
“They come for the greatest snow on Earth, a world-class playground with its unparalleled accessibility and majestic terrain, and we are only getting better.”
For leisure travellers, Deer Valley Resort in Park City is expanding with 16 new chairlifts, 135 new runs and four additional mountain peaks in the Wasatch Range, just 58km from Salt Lake City, for the upcoming 2026-27 winter season.
Outside of snowsports, Utah is best known in Australia for its five national parks aka the ‘Mighty 5‘: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches, usually explored on a road trip from Moab.
Utah Office of Tourism Global Market Director Rachel Bremer said the Mighty 5 is complemented by 46 State Parks that offer unique accommodations and activities, including dark sky programs and archaeological tours.
She highlighted the state’s commitment to night sky preservation with the world’s highest concentration of International Dark Sky Places, including new DarkSky International (IDA) designations such as Snow Canyon State Park and the Community of Bluff.
Beyond the IDA certification process, Bremer said the state is building infrastructure through dedicated Dark Sky toolkits and industry workshops to enhance the nighttime experience for stargazers.
“We’re ensuring that when the sun goes down, the adventure is just beginning. We’re proud to lead the globe in Night Sky Preservation, boasting the highest concentration of Dark Sky Places in the world with 28 certified,” she said.
“We’re ensuring that Utah remains top of mind for international travellers and fosters a more resilient tourism landscape as we look to the future. And likewise, our 46 State Parks are integral to the experience, offering a level of intimacy you won’t find anywhere else.
“The connections are personal in these parks. You’ll find local rangers who are passionate about the land and the people visiting it.
“Our state parks are revolutionising how you stay, as well, moving beyond traditional camping to offer distinctive accommodations, such as luxury yurts, authentic RVs and Conestoga wagons,” she said.
Bremer highlighted Utah’s “inherently welcoming culture” and said its state parks provide the perfect solution for international travellers looking for value and ease.
“They remain some of the most affordable and accessible destinations in the [US] west, providing a seamless addition to our Mighty 5 itinerary, because many of these parks sit just outside our national park borders,” she said.
Utah also continues to welcome the world with the final phase of the USD$5.1 billion (around AUD$7.4 billion) Salt Lake City International Airport redevelopment scheduled to open in October 2026.
Once complete, the new SLC will feature 94 gates, expanding connectivity, especially to Asia via Delta’s new flight to Seoul Incheon.
Williams added: “Utah offers an experience found nowhere else on Earth. As we look toward the 2034 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games, we’re actively building for the future.”
“We’re building on a legacy of excellence and innovating the visitor experience from the moment they arrive at our world-class Salt Lake City hub.”
