The much-anticipated 2026 Winter Olympics will officially begin on Friday, February 6, with the opening ceremony slated to be held in Milan, Italy. The Games are called the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and will run until Sunday, February 22 followed by the Winter Paralympics which will take place later in March. The opening ceremony will be held at San Siro Stadium in Milan. Its theme is 'Armonia', meaning 'Harmony', and it will celebrate Italian culture, history, and innovation.
The ceremony will last about three hours, featuring the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic flame. Stars who are expected to perform include US singer Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli. Although the ceremony is on February 6, sports competitions will start earlier, on Wednesday, February 4. Early events include curling, luge, snowboarding, Alpine skiing, and women’s ice hockey.
HOW TO WATCH WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY LIVE IN US AND CANADA
The first medals will be awarded on Saturday, February 7, with events like men’s downhill skiing, women’s 3000-meter speedskating, men’s Big Air snowboarding, and women’s ski jumping held across venues in the Milano-Cortina region.
American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin, Canadian ice hockey player Connor McDavid and Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam are among a host of big names hoping to put on a show at the upcoming Games.
According to the New York Times, the opening ceremony will feature more than 1,000 performers who have spent hundreds of hours rehearsing. The show is designed to present Italy to the world and highlight its culture and creativity.
Keeping the ceremony safe will require one of the largest and most complex security efforts in Italian history, reported New York Times. About 6,000 police officers and security staff will be involved. Security plans also include surveillance drones and robotic systems to inspect areas and monitor crowds. Protection will cover not only the main ceremony in Milan but also simultaneous Olympic events taking place in the mountain venues of Cortina and Livigno.
The ceremony will last about three hours, featuring the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic flame. Stars who are expected to perform include US singer Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli. Although the ceremony is on February 6, sports competitions will start earlier, on Wednesday, February 4. Early events include curling, luge, snowboarding, Alpine skiing, and women’s ice hockey.
HOW TO WATCH WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY LIVE IN US AND CANADA
- Event: Winter Olympics 2026
- Date: February 6
- Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan
- Start Time: 2 PM ET (8 PM Local Time - CET)
- Channel/Streaming in US: NBC/Peacock
- Channel/Streaming in Canada: CBC Gem
The first medals will be awarded on Saturday, February 7, with events like men’s downhill skiing, women’s 3000-meter speedskating, men’s Big Air snowboarding, and women’s ski jumping held across venues in the Milano-Cortina region.
American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin, Canadian ice hockey player Connor McDavid and Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam are among a host of big names hoping to put on a show at the upcoming Games.
According to the New York Times, the opening ceremony will feature more than 1,000 performers who have spent hundreds of hours rehearsing. The show is designed to present Italy to the world and highlight its culture and creativity.
Keeping the ceremony safe will require one of the largest and most complex security efforts in Italian history, reported New York Times. About 6,000 police officers and security staff will be involved. Security plans also include surveillance drones and robotic systems to inspect areas and monitor crowds. Protection will cover not only the main ceremony in Milan but also simultaneous Olympic events taking place in the mountain venues of Cortina and Livigno.
