The 2026 Winter Olympics will officially get underway on Friday, February 6, with a high-profile opening ceremony at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium, marking the formal start of the XXV Winter Games. Although competition has already begun in events such as curling and women's ice hockey, the ceremony remains the symbolic heartbeat of the Olympics - introducing athletes, showcasing host culture, and setting the tone for the weeks ahead.
What is the theme of the Milan-Cortina opening ceremony?
While organisers have kept most creative details tightly under wraps, the unifying theme is harmony. The ceremony is designed to connect Italy's financial and fashion capital, Milan, with the Alpine and Dolomite venues of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. For the first time in Winter Olympic history, athletes
will parade from venues closest to where they will compete, reducing travel and reinforcing the idea of a "distributed Games. "
Creative director Marco Balich has said the show will present "a young and modern Italy, looking towards the future," with a strong emphasis on Italian design and fashion. The ceremony will also pay tribute to legendary designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away last year.
The entertainment lineup reflects the event's global scale, featuring performances by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and Lang Lang.
Torch lighting and Olympic firsts
Another historic touch will be the lighting of two Olympic cauldrons - one at Milan's Arco della Pace and another in Cortina's Piazza Dibona - inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's knots. The dual cauldrons are intended to symbolise unity between the two host cities. Speculation continues over whether Italian alpine legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni will be the final torchbearers.
How to watch the Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony live
Fans around the world will be able to tune in live, with multiple broadcast and streaming options available.
Opening Ceremony - Broadcast & Streaming Details (All times ET):
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM (live) | 8:00 PM (replay)
Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan
TV: NBC
Live Stream: Peacock
Indian viewers can follow the Winter Olympics live on JioCinema, with televised coverage available on Sports18
In addition to the main ceremony in Milan, simultaneous celebrations and athlete parades will take place in Predazzo, Livigno and Cortina d'Ampezzo, reinforcing the scale and ambition of the most geographically spread Winter Games in Olympic history.
With a global audience expected to run into the hundreds of millions, Milan-Cortina 2026 promises an opening ceremony that blends spectacle, symbolism and sport: a fitting curtain-raiser for the next chapter of the Winter Olympics.
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