The 2026 Winter Olympics are coming back to Italy after 20 years. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo share hosting duties from February 6 to 22. More than 2 billion people worldwide are expected to tune in for the Opening Ceremony.
San Siro Stadium in Milan sets the stage for this massive event. Athletes from 85 nations will compete for medals in 116 different events. This guide tells you everything about watching the ceremony, buying tickets, and what you’ll see during the show.
Quick Facts: Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony
| Date | Friday, February 6, 2026 |
| Venue | San Siro Stadium, Milan |
| Theme | “Armonia” (Harmony) |
| Start Time (CET) | 6:00 PM |
| Global Viewers | Over 2 billion expected |
| Closing Ceremony | February 22, 2026 at Verona Arena |
Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony Date and Time
The ceremony happens on Friday, February 6, 2026. San Siro Stadium in Milan hosts the main event in the evening local time.
Your Local Start Time:
- US East Coast: Noon (live coverage) or 8 PM (replay)
- US West Coast: 9 AM (live) or 5 PM (replay)
- United Kingdom: 6 PM
- Canada Eastern: Noon
- Sydney, Australia: 4 AM on February 7
- Tokyo, Japan: 2 AM on February 7
American fans get to watch live during lunch hour. NBC runs the show again at 8 PM for people who prefer evening viewing.
Milan’s time zone sits 6 hours ahead of New York. This setup means US viewers can catch the best moments during daytime hours instead of staying up all night.
San Siro Stadium: The Opening Ceremony Venue
San Siro opened in 1926 and turns 100 years old in 2026. The stadium fits 75,817 people and serves as home base for AC Milan and Inter Milan soccer teams. Italians call it “La Scala of Football” because of its legendary reputation.
The venue has seen World Cup games, Champions League finals, and concerts by world-famous musicians. This might be one of the last major events at San Siro since plans exist to build a new stadium nearby.
The ceremony uses a theme called “Armonia.” That’s Italian for harmony. Something totally new happens this year. The Olympic tradition spreads across four different locations at once. Athletes will parade through San Siro in Milan, then also at venues in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno.
A spiral-shaped LED stage sits at the center of San Siro. The design connects all Olympic sites through visual effects. Two Olympic flames will burn during the Games. One lights up at the Arco della Pace in Milan. The other glows in Piazza Dibona square in Cortina.
The Closing Ceremony shifts to Verona Arena on February 22. That ancient Roman stadium ranks as the third biggest that still works today.
Preliminary Competitions Before the Opening Ceremony
Curling mixed doubles begins on February 4. That’s two days before the Opening Ceremony. Ice hockey preliminary games also start on February 5.
The Olympic Committee allows early starts because these tournaments need extra days to finish. Athletes in these sports still walk in the Opening Ceremony even though they already competed.
Who Will Perform at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Giorgio Armani gets a special tribute during the show. The famous Italian designer died in 2024. He built his fashion empire in Milan and became known worldwide.
Matilda De Angelis will speak during parts of the ceremony. She’s an Italian actress who has starred in international films and shows. Her role helps tell the story of Italy to viewers around the globe.
Marco Balich runs the creative side as lead producer. He’s designed ceremonies for several Olympics before. His company Balich Wonder Studio handles production.
The show celebrates Italian culture through art, music, and innovation. You’ll see references to Leonardo da Vinci and Italian design masters. The program connects old traditions with modern life. It brings together mountain culture and city energy.
More performer names will come out as we get closer to February. Right now these are the only confirmed talents.
US Broadcast Team: Savannah Guthrie from the TODAY show teams up with Terry Gannon from NBC Sports. Shaun White, the three-time Olympic snowboard champion, joins them when countries parade their athletes. Mike Tirico adds commentary from California where he’s preparing to call the Super Bowl two days later.
Expected Program and Highlights
Olympic Opening Ceremonies follow certain traditions but each host adds special touches.
- Parade of Nations brings every country into the stadium behind their flag. This year’s parade happens at four places simultaneously across northern Italy.
- Official speeches come from Olympic leaders and Italian organizers. They welcome athletes and celebrate the Olympic spirit.
- Torch lighting ends the ceremony. The Olympic flame starts its journey in Olympia, Greece on November 26, 2025. The torch travels 12,000 kilometers through every Italian province. It arrives at San Siro on ceremony day.
- Artistic performances show off Italian culture and history. The “Armonia” theme means harmony between opposites: mountains and cities, old and new, art and athletics.
- Special effects transform the stadium with LED lights, projections, and probably fireworks. The ceremony creates an experience that honors Italian heritage while celebrating Olympic values.
Past Winter Olympics gave us amazing moments. We’ve seen figure skaters perform, indigenous dancers share their culture, and incredible technology displays. Milano Cortina 2026 will add new memories to that collection.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony on TV
United States: NBC owns the exclusive rights to broadcast everything. The ceremony airs live at noon Eastern Time on NBC. The primetime replay starts at 8 PM Eastern. USA Network and CNBC show additional Olympic coverage all week.
United Kingdom: BBC broadcasts at least two live events every day on BBC One and BBC Two. BBC iPlayer carries over 500 hours of Olympics content. You need a valid TV license to watch. Discovery+ and TNT Sports also offer complete coverage.
Canada: CBC and Radio-Canada hold all broadcast rights. The public broadcaster promised to air at least 100 hours on free television. CBC covers everything across all their platforms.
Australia: Nine Entertainment owns the rights for Australian viewers.
Europe: European Broadcasting Union members show at least 100 hours on free TV channels. Warner Bros Discovery runs pay-TV coverage on Eurosport in 49 European countries.
Italy: RAI provides free coverage as the host country. Warner Bros Discovery also has Italian pay-TV rights.
How to Live Stream the Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony Online
United States: Peacock streams every Olympic event live. The service costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year. College students pay just $2.99 monthly. Peacock includes all 116 medal events, full replays, highlights, and extra content. The Gold Zone feature returns from the Paris Olympics. It lets you watch multiple events at once through split screens. You can also stream on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and the NBC Sports app but you need cable login credentials.
United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer offers free streaming if you have a TV license. Discovery+ provides complete streaming through TNT Sports.
Canada: CBC Gem streams all events for Canadian viewers at no charge.
Australia: 9Now provides streaming for Australian fans.
New Zealand: SKY Go works as the streaming platform through SKY TV.
All major streaming services work on computers, phones, tablets, and smart TVs. Most offer apps for Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and other devices.
Tickets for the Opening Ceremony
Official tickets only come from tickets.milanocortina2026.org. All tickets are digital. They arrive through a mobile app that launches in December 2025.
Opening Ceremony Ticket Prices:
- Category A: €2,026
- Category B: €1,400
- Category C: €700
- Category D: €260
You can buy up to 4 tickets per account for the Opening Ceremony. Buyers must be at least 16 years old. Children under 14 need an adult companion who is 18 or older.
An official resale platform opens in December 2025 for sold-out events. Never buy tickets from unauthorized sellers or random websites. Those tickets might be fake. You could lose your money and get turned away at the gate.
Hospitality packages include guaranteed tickets, better seats, meals, and sometimes hotels and transportation. These packages are sold at hospitality.milanocortina2026.org.
Most regular Olympic event tickets cost less than €100. Opening and Closing Ceremonies cost more because demand is extremely high and seats are limited.
When and Where is the Closing Ceremony?
The Closing Ceremony happens on February 22, 2026 at Verona Arena. This historic Roman theater was built nearly 2,000 years ago.
Tickets for the Closing Ceremony range from €950 to €2,900. The ceremony includes the traditional handover to the next Olympic host. The 2030 Winter Olympics location hasn’t been chosen yet.
The Paralympic Winter Games run from March 6 to 15, 2026. The Paralympic Opening Ceremony takes place at Verona Arena. The Paralympic Closing happens at Cortina Ice Stadium.
2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony FAQs
What time does the Opening Ceremony start?
Friday, February 6, 2026 at noon Eastern Time for live coverage. NBC shows a primetime replay at 8 PM Eastern. Check the time chart earlier in this article for your specific location.
Where can I watch for free?
US viewers need Peacock subscription or cable access. UK viewers use BBC iPlayer with a TV license at no extra cost. Canadians watch free on CBC Gem.
How much are tickets?
Opening Ceremony tickets cost between €260 and €2,026. Only buy from the official website tickets.milanocortina2026.org.
What is the ceremony theme?
“Armonia” which means Harmony in Italian. The show celebrates Italian culture and connects mountains with cities, past with future.
Do I need cable to watch?
No. Peacock streams everything live without cable for $10.99 per month in the US. Other countries have similar streaming options listed above.
Why do some events start early?
Curling starts February 4 and ice hockey on February 5 because those tournaments need more days. The Opening Ceremony still officially launches the Games on February 6.
What makes this ceremony unique?
This is the first Opening Ceremony happening at four locations simultaneously. Athletes parade in Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno at the same time.
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony promises an unforgettable night of sports, culture, and global unity. Mark February 6 on your calendar and get ready to witness Olympic history at San Siro Stadium.
