Live Updates: 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Kick Off with Harmony Theme & Star Performers

The Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games begins at 2 p.m. ET at Milan's San Siro Stadium, with simultaneous ceremonies in Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo.Date: February 6

Venue: San Siro Stadium (main ceremony)

TV Channels: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, NBC app, NBC Sports app

Watch live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Results, Live Updates.......

Photos from Milano Cortina opening ceremony

Here are more photos from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Parade of Nations begins

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Team USA Makes Grand Entrance at the Opening Ceremony

Team USA has arrived in style!As the American delegation marched in, they were met with thunderous applause. Flagbearers Erin Jackson and Frank Del Duca proudly waved the Stars and Stripes, with Vice President JD Vance looking on from the stands in Milan.This powerhouse contingent features 232 athletes, hailing from more than 30 states across the country.

Olympic Rings Revealed at the Opening Ceremony

One of the ceremony's standout moments came when the five Olympic rings took shape.High above the center of San Siro Stadium, two aerial acrobats were hoisted upward within a pair of gleaming golden rings.

They then plunged dramatically from the peak, spiraling into a breathtaking formation.Three additional golden rings soon joined them, and as all five rings aligned perfectly, a spectacular burst of surging sparklers illuminated the iconic symbol.

Parade of Nations begins

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U.S. Curling Team Continues Red-Hot Start at 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA's mixed doubles curling pair of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin remained perfect on Friday, extending their unbeaten record to 4-0 with two convincing victories at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.The Americans defeated Canada 7-5 in a tight battle before dominating Czechia 8-1, showcasing strong stone placement and aggressive strategy that has defined their early tournament form.

Elsewhere in mixed doubles action, Italy and Great Britain each picked up two wins on the day. Italy knocked off Switzerland and Estonia, while Great Britain overpowered Sweden and South Korea.With the round-robin stage progressing, only the United States and Great Britain remain unbeaten in the mixed doubles competition.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic kickstarts celebrations in Milan

Only a few hours away from the Opening Ceremony, the stars are already out. Former Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic carried a torch through the streets of Milan on Friday. Ibrahimovic won 34 trophies and scored more than 700 career goals in his 24-year career, including 122 for the Swedish national team in world play.

Olympics Figure Skating: Team USA Leads After Day 1

Day 1 of figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics concluded on Friday, with Team USA holding first place in the team competition standings.Reigning world champion Alysa Liu delivered a strong women's short program for the United States, scoring 74.90 to earn 9 points and push the American total to 25 points.Japan sits in second with 23 points, boosted by Kaori Sakamoto's standout performance (78.80) in the women's short program, which added 10 points to their tally.Italy rounds out the podium in third place with 22 points.

Simultaneous ceremonies unfolding across Italy

For the first time, the Opening Ceremony is being simultaneously streamed and presented across multiple host locations in Italy. San Siro Stadium, Italy's largest with 75,817 seats, is nicknamed “La Scala of Football” after Milan's famous opera house. To reduce travel, athletes will parade at the venue nearest their competition site (e.g., figure skaters in Milan, sliding athletes in Cortina).

Milan Cortina by the numbers

2,900 athletes from 92 countries

16 Olympic disciplines

116 medal events across 13 venues in four clusters: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, Val de Fiemme

18,000 volunteers assisting at venues, welcoming guests, translating, and more

Who is performing at the Opening Ceremony?

Headliners include Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

Additional Italian stars: mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, and rapper Ghali.

Italian actors featured: Pierfrancesco Favino ("Night at the Museum"), Sabrina Impacciatore ("The White Lotus"), and Matilde De Angelis ("Italian Race").

Olympics schedule today

All times Eastern.

3 a.m.: Ski Jumping – Women’s NH Official Training 2 | Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (Predazzo)

4 a.m.: Luge – Men’s Singles Official Training (Runs 5-6) | Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)

4:05 a.m.: Curling – Mixed Doubles Round Robin | Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)

SWE vs. GBR; ITA vs. SUI; USA vs. CAN

5:30 a.m.: Alpine Skiing – Men’s Downhill 3rd Official Training | Stelvio Ski Centre (Bormio, Valtellina)

5:30 a.m.: Alpine Skiing – Women’s Downhill 2nd Official Training | Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre (Cortina)

3:55–8:55 a.m.: Figure Skating – Team Event | Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

Team Event, Ice Dance/Rhythm Dance: 3:55 a.m.

Team Event, Pairs’ Short Program: 5:35 a.m.

Team Event, Women’s Singles Short Program: 7:35 a.m.

6:10 a.m.: Ice Hockey – Women’s Preliminary | FRA vs. JPN | Milan Rho Ice Hockey Arena (Milan)

8:35 a.m.: Curling – Mixed Doubles Round Robin | Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)

CZE vs. USA; vs. ITA; KOR vs. GBR; SWE vs. NOR

8:40 a.m.: Ice Hockey – Women’s Preliminary | CZE vs. SUI | Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan)

2:30 p.m.: Opening ceremony | San Siro Olympic Stadium (Milan)

The Olympics return to Italy after 20 years

Italy last hosted in 2006 (Turin Winter Olympics). This marks Italy’s fourth Olympic hosting: Rome 1960 (Summer), Cortina 1956 (Winter), and Turin 2006 (Winter).

What is the theme?

The ceremony theme is "armonia" (harmony in Italian), symbolizing "bringing together what is different." It blends the universal Olympic spirit with Italian culture, creativity, and values through visual storytelling—reflecting dialogue between Milan's urban landscape and Cortina's natural beauty. Ceremony director Marco Balich, who has worked on 16 Olympic ceremonies including Torino 2006, leads the creative team.Opening Ceremony.

How to Watch the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics Opening Ceremony: TV and Streaming Schedule

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