The Games officially started at Milan’s San Siro Stadium on Friday (Feb. 6), with a show that included performances of Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, and Andrea Bocelli.
The Winter Olympics of Milano Cortina 2026 is the major event that perpetuates Milan's renewed international momentum, which began more than a decade ago with Expo 2015. It's also a strategic opportunity for Italy in a geopolitical context where international relations are rapidly changing.
This is why last night (Friday, Feb. 6), all eyes were on the Opening Ceremony of Milano Cortina 2026, which took place across the various venues of this edition of the Games – Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno – but centered at Milan’s San Siro Stadium. t was a three-and-a-half-hour mega-show created by Balich Wonder Studio, which specializes in the creative direction of major events and with extensive expertise in Olympic ceremonies.
advertisement
The show revolved around the concept of harmony, as well as Italianness. “The Opening Ceremony is not just an exercise in technology or spectacle,” Marco Balich stated before the event. “It is, above all, a story told through people and emotions. In a complex world, we want to convey a message of harmony, beauty, and peace that can speak to everyone.”
Among the highly anticipated musical guests were Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini and Andrea Bocelli. In addition, the evening’s musical component included the participation of over 500 musicians who composed the original soundtracks.
The schedule began in the afternoon at the iconic Teatro Alla Scala, home to the official Red Carpet. Many protagonists of past editions of the Olympics passed by, from American snowboarder Shaun White (three-time gold medalist) to Dutch figure skating champion Irene Schouten.
Icons from a wide range of fields, from cinema to fashion, were also present: Jeff Goldblum, Donatella Versace, Stanley Tucci, Marisa Tomei, among others.
The music artists are those who catch our attention. Sunghoon of ENHYPEN had already distinguished himself as a torchbearer. At the Scala Theatre, he was dressed very elegant, in a black suit and white shirt. “Both athletes and K-Pop artists have the goal to make the fans happy and enjoy the event,” he said, having practiced figure skating competitively for ten years. “When I was an athlete, my dream was to participate in the Olympics. Being here as an artist feels different but I’m also very honoured.”
advertisement
Also making an almost unexpected appearance was Usher, who talked about relationship between music and sport: “Music and sports go hand in hand. Music, for example, is very important in figure skating. But for the most part, it ultimately gives the athletes a soundtrack that helps to compel and push through.”
The Opening Ceremony of Milano Cortina 2026 began at 8 pm sharp with choreographic performances: 70 dancers from the Academy of Teatro Alla Scala reinterpreted the myth of Cupid and Psyche. The shades of white and the chiaroscuro of the clothes, which recalled the art of the neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova, are then transformed into an explosion of colour accompanied by the music of Italian classical composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini.
After a tribute to Italian creativity, it was time for one of the evening’s stars, Mariah Carey. The diva, centre stage and surrounded by dancers, sang a cover of Domenico Modugno’s classic “Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu” (also commonly known as “Volare”), completely rearranged and enriched with her famous high notes. This was followed by a hit song from her repertoire, “Nothing Is Impossible.”
advertisement
The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, took their seats in the grandstand. A heartfelt tribute to Giorgio Armani followed. The king of Italian fashion passed away last September. Models paraded wearing his creations, coloured in green, white, and red, like the national flag.
advertisement
Then it was time for another highly anticipated star, Laura Pausini. Under the Italian flag, the pop star sang the national anthem. The long parade of athletes followed (over an hour), from Greece (traditionally first) to Italy, the host country. The crowd booed as the Israeli flag passed by and applauded the Ukrainian team with vigour.
Then it was time for the institutional speeches. Giovanni Malagò, President of the Milano Cortina Foundation, took the floor first. “I love my country, I love sports. I’ve never been as proud to be Italian as I am tonight,” he said. “To the athletes I say: this is your time. Your years of dedication, the courage to dream, the determination to push the boundaries… These Games belong to you. During a time in which the world is so divided by conflicts, your very presence demonstrates that another world is possible. Unity, respect, harmony.”
After him, Kirsty Coventry spoke, still addressing the athletes: “Through you, we see the very best of ourselves. You remind us that we can be brave, that we can be kind. When we see an athlete stumble and find the strength to rise, we’re all reminded that we can do the same. When we see athletes embrace at the finish line, we’re reminded that we can choose respect. No matter where we come from, we all know this spirit.”
Also present at the San Siro Stadium was the actress Charlize Theron, Messenger of Peace of the United Nations, who read a monologue inspired by a speech by Nelson Mandela: “Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference.”
advertisement
The arrival of the Olympic flame at the San Siro Stadium was accompanied by the notes of another song synonymous with Italianness, “Nessun dorma,” from Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” performed by the world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli. The flame reached the stage just as he reached the highest note of the piece.
Immediately afterward, it was the turn of rapper Ghali, perhaps the most controversial guest at the Opening Ceremony of Milano Cortina 2026 due to his pro-Palestine stance. He claims he was prevented from singing the national anthem and from speaking in Arabic. And the television broadcast never mentioned him by name or feature him in close-up.
Yet, in its simplicity, his performance was one of the most touching. Accompanied by a white-clad dance troupe, Ghali recited in three languages (Italian, French, and English) the poem “Promemoria” by Italian children’s writer Gianni Rodari, with its simple yet powerful message against conflicts: “There are things you should never do / Neither by day nor by night / Neither by sea nor by land / For example, war.”
After the athletes' official oaths, the Olympic Braziers were lit simultaneously in Milan and Cortina. The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially begun.
