Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: opening ceremony set to celebrate “harmony”
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will open on 6 February with a ceremony spread across several Italian cities, blending music, culture and sport under the theme of “Harmony”.
The countdown is on for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with the opening ceremony scheduled for 6 February at San Siro Stadium in Milan.
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For the first time, the ceremony will span multiple locations—including Milan, Cortina, and other Italian cities—featuring over 1,300 performers from 27 countries and coordinated by nearly 950 staff.
The central theme of the ceremony is “Harmony”, symbolising a blend of tradition and innovation, city and mountain, and the shared values of sport and culture.
Creative director Marco Balich described it as “a journey inside the colours of Italy, but it also speaks to the whole world.”
Music will play a major role, with Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and Italian-Tunisian rapper Ghaliamong the headline performers.
The official anthem, “Fantasia Italiana”, was composed by Dardust to capture Italy’s cultural and musical heritage.
Actors including Matilda De Angelis, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Pierfrancesco Favino will participate, with Favino joined by violinist Giovanni Zanon for a segment celebrating the dialogue between city and mountain.
Snoop Dogg will return as part of NBCUniversal’s team, contributing commentary and insights from the Games.
The ceremony will also host international VIPs such as Tom Cruise, representatives of royal families, and other dignitaries, with luxury transport and accommodations arranged for their visit.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella will also attend to open the 145th IOC session at La Scala Theatre.
With over 500 musicians, 1,400 costumes, and hundreds of hours of rehearsal across multiple cities, organisers promise a spectacle that will showcase Italy to the world while marking the official start of the Winter Olympics.