The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will formally get underway on Friday in a glitzy opening ceremony.
The events themselves have been ongoing for a few days, with ice hockey, luge and ski jumping already in full swing, but the official kick-off is yet to occur.
The 2026 edition will take place simultaneously across four different locations, but the bulk of the festivities will be held at Milan’s San Siro.
Among the ritual traditions on the cards are the lighting of the Olympic flame and the Parade of Nations, with an accompanying star-studded cast of musicians and actors set to provide entertainment.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
When is the Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
This year’s opening ceremony will take place on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Festivities will begin at 7pm GMT.
Where will the Winter Olympics opening ceremony be held?
It will be held simultaneously across four different locations, with the main festivities taking place at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium.
The Parade of Nations will also be held at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo and Livigno.
How to watch the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
TV Channel: The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 5.30pm, with proceedings underway at 7pm.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Discovery+ will carry most of the 2026 Winter Olympics, with select events being broadcast by the BBC.
Read more: How to watch the full 2026 Winter Olympics in UK for FREE
Who is performing at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
This year’s organisers have pulled out all the stops in hiring talent for the opening ceremony.
Mariah Carey is arguably the biggest name on the bill, closely followed by Andrea Bocelli.
Italian singer Laura Pausini will also feature, as will pianist Lang Lang, who will perform alongside Cecilia Bartoli.
Milan-born rapper Ghali, who has collaborated on tracks with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Stormzy, is also on the bill.
Actor Pierfrancesco Favino, as seen in ‘World War Z’, and ‘White Lotus’ star Sabrina Impacciatore complete the bill.
Who are Team GB’s flagbearers?
Two of Team GB’s top medal prospects will bear the Union Jack in the Parade of Nations: Brad Hall and Lilah Fear.
Hall, a Chichester-born bobsleigh pilot, is contesting his third Winter Olympics in pursuit of his first medal. He was part of the four-man team which won a European title in 2023.
Fear, meanwhile, represents Team GB despite being born in the United States to Canadian parents. She is an eight-time British champion figure skater and is entering her second Winter Olympics.
