Winter Olympics 2026: Gold and silver medals skyrocket in value this year. Here’s how much they’re worth

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy will feature the most valuable Olympic medals ever due to soaring precious metal prices. The value of gold has nearly doubled since the 2024 Paris Olympics, reaching $4,800 per ounce, despite recent drops from record highs. Silver prices have also increased dramatically, now valued at around $77 per ounce, up from $28 during the last games. Based on current prices, a gold medal is worth approximately $2,176, significantly more than in Paris. Olympic gold medals are not pure gold; they are composed of silver and a small amount of gold. Silver medals consist entirely of silver. A total of 735 Olympic and 411 Paralympic medals will be awarded during the games. Each medal is 10 millimeters thick with an 80-millimeter diameter. While the material cost is a factor for manufacturers, medals are rarely sold and often command high prices at auction. Swimmer Ryan Lochte previously sold several Olympic gold medals for substantial sums. Ultimately, the true value of a medal goes beyond its material worth.