The 2026 Winter Olympics officially got underway on Friday with a dazzling Opening Ceremony that marked the start of the Milan Cortina Games, blending sport, culture and innovation across multiple Italian cities.
Festivities began at San Siro Stadium in Milan, home of AC Milan and Inter Milan, while parallel ceremonies and athlete parades took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo and Livigno, reflecting the distributed nature of the Games across northern Italy.
In a historic first for the Olympic Movement, organizers unveiled two Olympic cauldrons. One was installed at the Arco della Pace in Milan, while the second stood in Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
According to the official Olympics website, the dual cauldrons symbolize “harmony between the two Host Cities and the territories of the distributed Games.”
The Parade of Nations followed Olympic tradition, beginning with Greece and concluding with host nation Italy, while the rest of the delegations entered in alphabetical order based on the Italian language.
Team USA was led by speed skater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca, while Ukraine received a warm ovation from the crowd.
Italy, as the host nation, made the final entrance to loud cheers inside San Siro.
The ceremony featured an impressive lineup of global and Italian stars. Mariah Carey headlined the musical performances, delivering a rendition of the Italian classic “Volare,” alongside acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, rapper Ghali, pianist Lang Lang and opera star Cecilia Bartoli.
Italian actors Pierfrancesco Favino and Sabrina Impacciatore also played prominent roles, with Favino reciting verses from Giacomo Leopardi’s famous poem L’Infinito.
The artistic program celebrated Italy’s cultural heritage, showcasing giant sculptures, dancers inspired by classical art, and tributes to legendary composers such as Verdi, Puccini and Rossini.
Aerialists introduced the Olympic rings, while the Italian flag entered the stadium in a visual nod to the country’s fashion history.
Dignitaries in attendance included the President of the International Olympic Committee, the President of Italy, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, underscoring the global significance of the event.
The Opening Ceremony was broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Peacock, with a primetime replay scheduled later in the evening for U.S. audiences.
With the Olympic flame lit and athletes from around the world officially welcomed, the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games are now underway, setting the stage for more than two weeks of competition across Italy’s iconic alpine and urban venues.
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