The Winter Olympics opened in a blaze of colour on Friday night, with a nearly three-hour ceremony marking the start of the 2026 Games.
Centred in Milan’s landmark San Siro stadium, the dazzling event showcased the Parade of Athletes, alongside a spectacular array of entertainers and performers.
Spectators were treated to ballet dancers, acrobats, opera singers and musicians, alongside dramatic set pieces and giant suspended rings, as the ceremony paid homage to Italy’s artistry and cultural heritage.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella was introduced to the fans via a recorded video clip in which the 84-year-old was seen travelling through the city on one of Milan's historic trams.
The opening stages also included a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who made Milan his base and died in September of last year at the age of 91.
Armani had a special connection to the Olympics, having long designed the Italian team’s uniforms.
His legacy as a founder of Italian ready-to-wear is tightly woven into the fabric of Milan.
Cortina played a supporting role in the celebrations, from more than 400 km (250 miles) away in the mountains, in a spectacle entitled ‘Armonia’ (Harmony) expected to draw a huge global audience on television and online.
Athletes were also parading in the mountain venues of Livigno and Predazzo, in a Games spread over 22,000 square kilometres.
The ceremony celebrated the diversity of Italian life, from fashionable Milan to the smaller mountain towns in the Alps that host the outdoor events at the Games, which run until February 22.
Some visitors said they had trouble accessing the town, though others were happy to have a slice of the action without having to trek to Milan.
Loredana Vido, from Padova, said: “We were not told that everything would be closed off. We were told it was free entry.”
Mariah Carey stunned crowds with a performance of the Italian song ‘Nel blu, dipinto di blu’, more commonly known as Volare, one of the most famous Italian pop songs of all time.
The American singer, 56, stood onstage wearing a dazzling wintry ensemble, consisting of a white and sparkly silver striped gown, with a white feather coat draped over her.
The song landed the country third place in the 1958 Eurovision song contest before going on to become a worldwide hit, winning two Grammys at its first-ever awards ceremony in 1959.
US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among the crowd in the iconic soccer stadium on Friday night.
Vance drew jeers in the stadium when an image of him waving the US flag appeared on a big screen.
The announcement of the Israeli team also prompted some booing in Milan over the loud soundtrack, but there were cheers in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Games co-host that was part of a unique joint opening ceremony.
Israel has a team of 10 in Italy.
The group of five athletes from Ukraine in Milan drew huge cheers.
David Arwood, 59, from Washington DC, was attending his fifth opening ceremony and did not expect political controversies to spoil the party.
"The Olympics always reflect what's going on in the world," said Arwood, who was wearing novelty glasses featuring the five Olympic rings.
"But I think once the Games start, people tend to forget most of that stuff. It's controversial beforehand, but once the ceremony starts, once the athletes come in I think everybody has a good camaraderie," he added.
For the first time in Olympic history, two Olympic cauldrons will be lit simultaneously — one in Milan and another in Cortina d’Ampezzo — reflecting the joint nature of the Games’ co-host cities.
Athletes are now preparing for competition across venues in northern Italy as the Games continue through to February 22.
