The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, 6 February 2026, in Italy at 8 PM CET. This page provides complete details about the Opening Ceremony program, venue, schedule, timing, TV channels, and where to watch the event online.
Explore:2026 Olympics Opening Ceremony Highlights
- The Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony will take place on 6 February 2026 in Milan, Italy.
- The ceremony will officially open the XXV Olympic Winter Games.
- Italy will host the Opening Ceremony in an open city venue instead of a traditional stadium.
- The Parade of Nations will feature athletes from more than 90 participating countries.
- Greece will lead the parade as the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
- Italy will enter the parade last as the host nation.
- The Olympic flag will be raised during the ceremony.
- The Olympic oath will be taken by selected athletes and officials.
- The Olympic flame will be lit to mark the official start of the Winter Olympics.
- Cultural performances will showcase Italian heritage, art and modern creativity.
- The ceremony will include music, dance and visual storytelling.
- World leaders and Olympic officials will attend the Opening Ceremony.
2026 Olympics Opening Ceremony Facts
| Opening Ceremony Date | Friday, 6 February 2026 |
| Opening Ceremony Time in Milan | 8 PM CET,[Time Zone - GMT+1 or UTC+01) |
| Venue | Milan's San Siro Stadium, Italy |
| Address | Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 Milano, Italy |
| Games Opened By | President of Italy |
| How To Watch Opening Ceremony | Official Olympic broadcasters worldwide |
| Stadium Capacity | More than 80,000 spectators expected |
| How to Reach | The stadium is reachable via the Metro Line M5 (Lilla) to the "San Siro Stadio" stop. |
| Nearest Airport | Milan Malpensa International Airport |
| Where to Buy Milano Cortina 2026 Tickets | Official Milano Cortina 2026 ticket website |
| Ticket Booking Website | www.milanocortina2026.org |
About Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are one of the most anticipated global sporting events. Italy will host the XXV Olympic Winter Games. The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, 6 February 2026 in Milan, Italy. For this historic edition, the ceremony will be held in an open city venue instead of a traditional stadium. Thousands of athletes from participating nations will gather to celebrate the official beginning of the Winter Olympic Games with cultural performances and a grand parade.
What is the Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony is the official start of the Olympic Games. It marks the beginning of competition and includes traditional rituals such as the parade of nations, raising of the Olympic flag and lighting of the Olympic flame.
What happens during the Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony will feature cultural programs, artistic performances and traditional Olympic rituals. Italy will present its heritage, history and modern creativity through music, dance and visual displays. The ceremony will include welcome speeches by officials, the presentation of national flags and the Parade of Nations by athletes from all participating countries. The lighting of the Olympic flame will officially mark the beginning of the XXV Olympic Winter Games.
Olympic Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations
During the Parade of Nations at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, athletes and officials from each participating country will enter in a fixed order. Greece will lead the parade as the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Other countries will follow in alphabetical order according to the host nation language, and Italy will enter last as the host country.
When will Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony start
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony will begin on Friday, 6 February 2026. The ceremony is scheduled to start in the evening 8 PM local time in Milan, Italy.
2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Date and Timing in US, Canada, Italy
| Country Name | Date | Event Time | Time Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 6 February 2026 | 20.00 | CET |
| United States Eastern | 6 February 2026 | 14.00 | ET |
| United States Pacific | 6 February 2026 | 11.00 | PT |
| United Kingdom | 6 February 2026 | 19.00 | GMT |
| India | 7 February 2026 | 00.30 | IST |
| Canada Eastern | 6 February 2026 | 14.00 | ET |
| Australia Sydney | 7 February 2026 | 05.00 | AEDT |
| Japan | 7 February 2026 | 04.00 | JST |
| China | 7 February 2026 | 03.00 | CST |
| South Africa | 6 February 2026 | 21.00 | SAST |
| Austria | 6 February 2026 | 20.00 | CET |
| Czech Republic | 6 February 2026 | 20.00 | CET |
| Sweden | 6 February 2026 | 20.00 | CET |
| Switzerland | 6 February 2026 | 20.00 | CET |
| United Arab Emirates | 6 February 2026 | 23.00 | GST |
| Norway | 6 February 2026 | 20.00 | CET |
2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Venue
The venue for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony will be located in Milan, Italy. The ceremony will take place at a specially prepared open city location designed to host thousands of athletes and spectators. Milan will serve as the main host city for the Opening Ceremony, while Cortina d Ampezzo and other Italian locations will host various winter sports competitions.
2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Live Streaming Apps
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony will be available to watch live through official Olympic broadcasting partners and digital streaming platforms. Viewers can access the ceremony using mobile apps and online services provided by licensed broadcasters.
In the United States, the Opening Ceremony can be streamed using the NBC Sports app and Peacock streaming app.
In Italy, viewers can watch the ceremony through official national sports broadcasting apps and Olympic partner platforms.
In Canada, the ceremony will be available on national sports network apps and official Olympic streaming services.
Olympics Opening Ceremony Live Streaming and TV Channels
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony will be broadcast worldwide through official Olympic broadcasters. Viewers can watch the ceremony live on television and online streaming platforms in different countries.
In the United States, the Opening Ceremony will be televised by NBC and streamed on Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.
In Italy, the event will be broadcast on national sports television channels and official Olympic partners.
In Canada, the Opening Ceremony will be available on national sports networks and official streaming services.
Fans around the world can also watch highlights and official clips on the Olympic website and the official Olympic video channels.