Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony takes place Friday night

The Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony takes place Friday night at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium, marking the start of the 2026 Winter Games with a nearly three-hour spectacle expected to draw millions of viewers worldwide. The ceremony begins at 9 p.m. CET and will feature performances by international stars including Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, with approximately 60,000 spectators attending in person.

In a departure from tradition, the opening ceremony will incorporate multiple locations across Italy. According to organizers, the Parade of Athletes and other ceremony elements will be conducted simultaneously in Cortina in the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps, and Predazzo in Trento province, with moments beamed to the global television audience from each site.

Historic Dual Cauldron Lighting at Milan Cortina Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics will make history with two Olympic cauldrons, an unprecedented arrangement inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies. One cauldron will be positioned at Milan’s Arco della Pace, approximately 4 kilometers from San Siro stadium, while the second will stand at Piazza Dibona in Cortina, located some 400 kilometers away. The cauldrons will be lit simultaneously during the ceremony, though the identities of the final torchbearers remain closely guarded secrets until they appear Friday night.

Theme of Harmony Resonates Amid Global Conflicts

Creative director Marco Balich revealed to The Associated Press that the ceremony’s central theme is “Harmony,” a message he described as especially urgent given current global violence. The concept draws from the ancient Greek Olympic Truce, which was revived by Olympic officials in the 1990s to promote peace and dialogue through sport. The truce traditionally calls for ceasing hostilities one week before the Olympics and one week after the Paralympics, which conclude on March 15.

Additionally, the ceremony will honor the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away in September at age 91. Armani had designed the Italian team’s Olympic uniforms for many years, and his contributions to Milan’s fashion industry and Italian ready-to-wear will be commemorated during the show.

Extensive Preparation and Star-Studded Lineup

According to organizers, approximately 1,200 volunteers have been rehearsing since November for the opening ceremony. The diverse group of volunteers reportedly includes individuals from various backgrounds, from Balich’s butcher to his office manager, and even an 88-year-old widow, reflecting the ceremony’s inclusive spirit.

Meanwhile, the performance roster extends beyond Carey and Bocelli to include mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian singer Laura Pausini, and concert pianist Lang Lang. The ceremony will also feature appearances by Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore, known for her role in the second season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” and actress Matilda De Angelis.

However, Balich brings considerable experience to this production, having served as producer for a record 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, including the 2006 Turin opening ceremony. His extensive background in creating Olympic spectacles positions him to deliver a memorable Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony that balances Italian cultural heritage with contemporary global messaging.

The multi-venue format of the opening ceremony reflects the geographically dispersed nature of the Milan Cortina Olympics, with events scheduled across various Italian locations throughout the Games. Organizers have not disclosed specific details about how the simultaneous broadcasts from multiple sites will be coordinated, though the technical execution will be closely watched by future Olympic host cities.