MILAN, ITALY ~ The 2026 Winter Olympics will officially begin Friday, Feb. 6, with an opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium featuring performances by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and Laura Pausini. The event marks the symbolic start of the Games and is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET, lasting about three hours.
Organizers have planned a large-scale production that includes the Parade of Nations, where more than 90 countries will be represented, followed by the traditional lighting of the Olympic flame. This year introduces a dual-cauldron format with one cauldron in Milan and another in Cortina, highlighting the multi-city structure of the 2026 Games.
In addition to the stadium program, simultaneous satellite events will take place across other Olympic territories, including Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno. These coordinated celebrations reflect the “Armonia” theme emphasized by organizers to showcase unity across host regions.
