Games Begin
The 2026 Winter Olympics open on Friday in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Context
Italy’s last Winter Olympics took place in Turin in 2006, while Cortina d’Ampezzo hosted the Games in 1956. The 2026 Games are spread across more locations than any previous Winter Olympics, with events held in multiple venues in northern Italy rather than concentrated in a single host city.
Ceremony & Schedule
The opening ceremony takes place on Friday at 2 PM ET at San Siro Stadium in Milan and will feature performances by Mariah Carey, tenor Andrea Bocelli, pop star Laura Pausini, and The White Lotus actress Sabrina Impacciatore.
