We are three days away from the start of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo. The world’s best athletes who compete on snow and ice will come together for over two weeks of magnificent action. Before the Opening Ceremonies take place, there will be fascinating competition in mixed doubles curling, women’s hockey and team figure skating. For an in depth preview, please click here.
When can television viewers watch the Opening Ceremonies?
The Opening Ceremonies will be seen live at 2pm ET and replayed at 8pm ET/8pm PT on NBC in the United States on Friday, February 6, 2026. Canadian viewers will be able to watch the Opening Ceremonies live at the same time on CBC.
Be sure to tune in earlier
Even though the Opening Ceremonies take place on Friday, there is taped Olympic competition taking place on NBC before the ceremonies start. Team figure skating will be at the Forum di Milano with the rhythm dance, pairs short program and women’s short program starting at Noon ET.
Where is the Opening Ceremonies?
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be extraordinarily unique to Italians. That is because it will be taking place at four different locations throughout Italy according to Ed Stocker of Monocle. They will be at San Siro Stadium in Milan (home of two Italian soccer powerhouses in Serie A–Inter Milan and AC Milan), as well as separate locations in Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno. To have an Olympic Winter Games in four different locations is extraordinary, but Marco Belich, the creative lead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, has been working on this one particular event for two years now, and after six months of rehearsals, is planning on delivering something very special for viewers to get excited about.
Who will be performing in the Opening Ceremonies?
The list includes some icons in the worldwide music and entertainment scene. According to Olympics.com, Ghali, Lang Lang, Cecilia Bartoli, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Sabrina Impacciatore, Pierfrancesco Favino and Mariah Carey will be performing.
The two most recognizable names are Carey and Bocelli. Carey of Huntington, New York, has won six Grammy Awards in her music career. She has over 220 million records sold, and has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bocelli, is a 67-year-old Italian tenor, who was born with congenital glaucoma. He could be considered one of the most famous singers in the world who is visually impaired. Bocelli has sold 90 million records worldwide.
