2026 Winter Olympics Kick Off in Milan with San Siro Ceremony

Milan's San Siro Stadium fills with athletes and spectators today as the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony gets under way. More than 2,900 competitors from 92 national Olympic committees take part in the event, which starts at 2 p.m. ET and runs for about three hours. The Games, co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, run from February 6 to February 22 and feature 116 events in eight sports across northern Italy.

Background

Italy hosts the Winter Olympics for the third time with these Games. The country held the event in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956 and in Turin in 2006. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo now share duties, about 250 miles apart by road, in what marks the first time two cities officially co-host an Olympics. Milan handles most ice events like figure skating and ice hockey, while mountain venues in Cortina, Valtellina, and Fiemme valleys host skiing and snowboarding.

The stoat, a small animal native to the region, serves as the mascot. Students from Istituto Comprensivo of Taverna designed Tina for the Olympics and her brother Milo for the Paralympics, joined by six snowdrop flowers called 'The Flo.' These characters represent the local Italian spirit.

Planning for the ceremony faced unique challenges due to the split locations. Organizers must light two Olympic cauldrons, raise two flags, and hold protocol stages in different spots. This setup reflects the Games' spread-out nature.

"It's beautiful on paper, but then as a producer, creative director suddenly say, 'Wait.'"

• Lita Castelli, ceremony concept creator

Key Details

The ceremony centers at San Siro, Milan's famous stadium usually home to soccer matches. Athletes parade in four locations: San Siro in Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo city center, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium, and Livigno Snow Park. Each nation names two flag bearers across these sites, with Italy naming four as host.

Parade of Nations and Performances

The Parade of Nations brings athletes from every participating country into the venues, led by flag and placard bearers. For Team USA, bobsledder Frank Del Duca and speedskater Erin Jackson carry the flag. Athletes voted them in through the Team USA Athletes’ Commission. This is the second time a Winter Olympics team shares the flag-bearing role.

Performers include Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli, and Sabrina Impacciatore from the TV show White Lotus. The event ends with the lighting of the Olympic flame, a key tradition.

Team sizes show the scale. The United States sends over 230 athletes, the largest group. Canada follows with 210, and Italy has 196. Other nations round out the 92 committees.

Ralph Lauren outfits Team USA for the ceremony, continuing their role in Olympic uniforms.

Early Competition Highlights

Some events started before the official opening. American skier Lindsey Vonn trained in women's downhill Friday after tearing her left ACL in a World Cup crash in the Swiss Alps a week ago. Thursday's session canceled due to weather, but Vonn completed Friday's run without issues. Her first race comes Sunday.

The full schedule covers alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, and new additions like ski mountaineering. The Paralympics follow from March 6 to 15.

Viewers in the U.S. watch on NBC, with live coverage on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com starting at 2 p.m. ET. A repeat airs at 8 p.m. ET.

What This Means

These Games test a new model for the Olympics with events spread over a wide area. Milan focuses on urban ice sports, while remote valleys handle snow disciplines. This split requires extra logistics, like duplicate ceremonies, but aims to use Italy's varied terrain.

For athletes, the setup means travel between sites, often a five-hour drive. Nations prepare flag bearers for multiple parades to cover all locations. The co-hosting highlights how Olympics adapt to host geography.

The event draws global attention to northern Italy's mountains and cities. It builds on past Italian hosts, bringing back Winter Games to a familiar nation after 20 years. New sports like ski mountaineering expand options for competitors.

Team USA's large contingent eyes medals across disciplines. Flag bearers Del Duca and Jackson represent diverse sports—bobsled and speedskating—showing the team's breadth. Vonn's return adds a personal story amid her injury recovery.

Organizers emphasize harmony in the ceremony, blending protocol, art, and sport. With millions watching, the show introduces Italy's culture through music, mascots, and venues. The dual cauldrons symbolize unity across distances.

Ticket sales run through the official Milano Cortina site only. Watch parties let fans gather on big screens for NBC broadcasts. The Games promise two weeks of competition, starting strong with today's kickoff.