2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: Everything You Need to Know About Friday's Historic Show

Feb 4
2 min read

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially begin Friday, February 6, with a groundbreaking opening ceremony that rewrites Olympic history. For the first time ever, the ceremony will take place simultaneously in two cities, with Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium hosting the main event while Cortina d'Ampezzo stages a synchronized celebration in the mountain town's historic center. Nearly 2,900 athletes from 93 countries will parade under the theme "Armonia" (Harmony) before twin Olympic cauldrons light up in perfect synchrony 400 kilometers apart.

When and Where to Watch the 2026 winter olympics

The ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. Central European Time) on Friday, February 6, broadcasting live on NBC and streaming on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, and the NBC Sports app. A primetime encore presentation airs at 8:00 p.m. ET for viewers who miss the afternoon broadcast. Terry Gannon will host alongside three-time Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White, while Mike Tirico contributes remotely from Northern California as he prepares to call Super Bowl LX on February 8. The ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours with performances, the Parade of Nations, and the dual cauldron lighting.

Star-Studded Performer Lineup

Mariah Carey headlines the blockbuster entertainment, joined by Italian superstars Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and pianist Lang Lang. The show also features Golden Globe-winning actors Pierfrancesco Favino and Emmy-nominated "White Lotus" star Sabrina Impacciatore. Creative director Marco Balich, who previously produced opening ceremonies for multiple Olympics, designed this spectacular event around the concept of harmony between diverse Italian regions, blending cutting-edge technology with tributes to Leonardo da Vinci and Italy's rich cultural heritage.

Opening Ceremony Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA Flag Bearers and Historic First

Long track speedskater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca will carry the American flag during the Parade of Nations. The historic dual-city format features identical cauldrons inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's famous geometric knots, symbolizing the connection between Milan's urban innovation and Cortina's alpine beauty.

Cortina will host its ceremony in Piazza Angelo Dibona with athletes parading along Corso Italia, while large screens stream the Milan proceedings. The synchronized cauldron lighting marks an unprecedented Olympic moment celebrating distributed Games across northern Italy's 15 competition venues.

Competition Already Underway

While the opening ceremony officially marks the Games' start, preliminary curling competition began February 4, following recent Olympic tradition. Athletes have been training at venues and settling into Olympic Villages across Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno. Approximately 1.2 million tickets have already sold, with only limited Opening Ceremony seats remaining.

The Games run through February 22, featuring 116 medal events including ski mountaineering's Olympic debut, before the Paralympic Winter Games take over from March 6 to 15. The Olympic torch relay, which began in Olympia, Greece on November 26, traveled 12,000 kilometers through all 110 Italian provinces before arriving in Milan.