Bocelli and Carey to Headline Milan Winter Olympics Opener

The world's most spread-out Winter Olympics just got a star-studded opening ceremony to match its ambition.

On February 6, legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will join Grammy-winning superstar Mariah Carey for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony at Milan's iconic San Siro stadium. The announcement brings together classical elegance and pop star power for what organizers expect to be the most-watched moment of the Games.

The ceremony breaks new ground with a four-city format designed to include athletes from every discipline. While the main Parade of Athletes unfolds at San Siro before 60,000 spectators, simultaneous moments will be broadcast from Cortina in the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps, and Predazzo in Trento province.

This creative solution reflects the unique geography of the 2026 Games, which spread venues across northern Italy farther than any previous Olympics. Rather than leave distant athletes out of the celebration, producers found a way to bring everyone together through technology.

Bocelli will squeeze the performance between tour stops, flying to Columbus, Ohio the next day to continue his world tour. The classically trained singer, who has performed at King Charles III's coronation and Italy's Constitution anniversary, represents Italian musical heritage on the global stage.

Carey announced her participation with an Instagram post in Italian: "Ci vediamo a Milano" (See you in Milan). The six-time Grammy winner adds international star power that signals Italy's welcoming spirit to the world.

The Ripple Effect

The ceremony will also honor the late fashion icon Giorgio Armani, who died in September at 91. His decades-long tradition of designing Italy's Olympic uniforms connected Milan's fashion legacy to athletic excellence, and the tribute celebrates how creativity transcends borders.

Italian actors Sabrina Impacciatore from "The White Lotus" and Matilde De Angelis from "The Law According to Lydia Poet" will also participate in the festivities. Marco Balich, who has produced over a dozen Olympic ceremonies, leads the creative team.

The closing ceremony on February 22 will feature internationally acclaimed ballet star Roberto Bolle at Verona's ancient Roman Arena, bookending the Games with Italian artistry.

From alpine peaks to historic stadiums, the Milan Cortina Games demonstrate that distance doesn't have to divide when creativity and technology work together to unite.