Olympic opening ceremony begins as 2026 Winter Games start in Milano Cortina

The 2026 Winter Olympics opened with a ceremony in the Milano Cortina host region featuring performances by Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli and Sabrina Impacciatore. The Games are co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, with ice events in Milan and other competitions staged across Cortina and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys.

The opening ceremony for the XXV Winter Olympic Games has begun in the Milano Cortina host region in northern Italy. The presentation includes musical and cultural performances from Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli and actress Sabrina Impacciatore. These Games are officially co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the first Olympics to be shared in this way by two cities. Venues are spread across Milan and mountain clusters in Cortina and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys. Key details: - Performers announced for the opening include Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli and Sabrina Impacciatore. - The event is the XXV Winter Olympic Games and is co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. - Milan will primarily host ice events, with other competitions in Cortina and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys. - Milan and Cortina are about 250 miles apart by road, nearly a five-hour drive. - Italy previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 (Cortina d'Ampezzo) and 2006 (Turin), and the Summer Olympics in 1960 (Rome). The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Summary: The opening ceremony marks the formal start of the 2026 Winter Olympics and highlights the split-host arrangement between Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Competitions will take place across the ice venues in Milan and the mountain clusters in Cortina, Valtellina and Fiemme as the Games proceed.