The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially began in spectacular fashion Friday night with an opening ceremony unlike any in Olympic history — a celebration of Italian culture, music, and sport staged across multiple locations and highlighted by the lighting of two Olympic cauldrons for the first time ever.
Marking the return of the Winter Games to Italy for the first time since the 2006 Turin Olympics, the ceremony reflected the unique structure of these Games, which are spread across an 8,500-square-mile region of northern Italy — the largest geographic footprint ever for a Winter Olympics.
Nearly three hours into the event, Italian President Sergio Mattarella formally declared the Games open following remarks from International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, who is making history as the first woman to lead the IOC. Her speech emphasized unity, resilience, and the enduring power of the Olympic movement.
The ceremony blended modern entertainment with deep tributes to Italy’s artistic and sporting heritage. Performers from the Teatro alla Scala Academy opened the festivities with dancers creatively mimicking winter sports, setting the tone for a night that celebrated the host nation’s identity.
Music played a central role in the program. American pop superstar Mariah Carey surprised the audience with a performance of the beloved Italian classic “Nel blu, dipinto di blu” (“Volare”), drawing cheers from the crowd. Later, legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli delivered a powerful rendition of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” ending with the triumphant refrain “Vincerò” — “I will win” — a fitting anthem for the world’s greatest athletes. As Bocelli’s voice filled the stadium, the Olympic flame continued its journey among torchbearers.
In keeping with Olympic tradition, Greece led the Parade of Nations, honoring its role as the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The ceremony also featured artistic tributes to Italian cultural giants, including oversized figures representing composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini.
One of the night’s most emotional moments came during a tribute to legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died last year at age 91. Armani had a long Olympic connection as the designer of Team USA’s uniforms, and his influence on global style and sport was celebrated during the ceremony.
The climax of the evening came with the historic lighting of two Olympic cauldrons, symbolizing the shared hosting duties of Milan and Cortina.
In Milan, the flame was lit by Italian alpine skiing legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni. Tomba remains Italy’s most decorated Olympic skier with five medals — three gold and two silver — while Compagnoni won three consecutive Olympic gold medals beginning in 1992.
Roughly 250 miles away in Cortina d’Ampezzo, current Italian skiing star Sofia Goggia ignited the second cauldron. Competing in her third Olympics, Goggia won downhill gold in 2018 and silver in 2022, famously returning from injury to reach the podium.
The dual-cauldron lighting symbolized both the geographic scale and collaborative spirit of the Milan Cortina Games — an Olympics designed to showcase multiple regions while honoring tradition.
With the flame now burning in both Milan and Cortina, the 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway, launching more than two weeks of competition where athletes from around the world will chase the dream captured in Bocelli’s final note of the night: victory.
