While the Olympics are always filled with amazing sporting moments, one of the highlights of the Games is always the opening ceremony.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are just around the corner, and Team USA’s roster of athletes is gearing up to capture multiple bronze, silver and gold medals. NBCUniversal will continue to serve as the exclusive broadcaster of the Olympics, televising the events on NBC, Peacock, CNBC and USA Network.
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According to the event website, this year’s Olympic opening ceremony is destined to be an unforgettable event, as the ceremony will have some changes in the “lighting and extinguishing of the Olympic cauldron.”
“For the first time, there will be two Olympic flame pools,” the website reveals, noting that one will be located at the Arch of Peace in Milan and the other in Piazza di Bona in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Scroll down to learn more about the 2026 Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony, including where to watch, when and who’s hosting it.
When will the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony take place?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will open on Friday, February 6.
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Where can I watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
Viewers can watch the opening ceremony live on NBC and Peacock at 2 p.m. ET. The event’s primetime encore presentation will air that day at 8 p.m. ET.
“For the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics, the Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony will take a polycentric approach to celebrations, ensuring athletes from competition venues across Italy have the opportunity to participate,” reads the NBC Olympics website. “While the main ceremony will take place at the San Siro Olympic Stadium, athletes, spectators and local communities across the country will join in the celebrations with multiple athlete parades and two separate Olympic flame pools.”
Savannah Guthrie, NBCUniversal Pre-Event – “Pre-Backstage Portraits,” 2025; Shaun White attends the Shaun White x Ralph Lauren Winter Olympics Marquee Event at Macy’s Herald Square on January 24, 2026 in New York City.
Who will host the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
todaySavannah Guthrie’s Savannah Guthrie will co-host the event along with NBC Sports’ Terry Gannon. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White will also commentate from the broadcast booth of the parade. Mike Tirico, who is handling NBC’s primetime Olympics coverage, will also help cover the opening ceremonies in California, where Super Bowl X will be held two days later.
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What will happen during the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The event will feature more than 1,300 actors, more than 500 musicians, more than 1,400 costumes and more than 1,000 stage elements, according to the opening website. In addition to the lighting of the two altars, spectators can look forward to performances by several celebrities.
Promising to be “one of the most impressive and spectacular events in the history of the Olympic Games,” the event website promises “it will be the first time that an extensive ceremony takes place in different locations: an event of global scope, the result of a choral project involving thousands of people and using the highest level of artistic, technical and organizational skills.”
Who are the performers at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The opening ceremony will feature performances and appearances by Italian celebrities and global stars, including Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli and Sabrina Impacciatore. Other confirmed performers include Laura Pausini, Pierfrancesco Favino, Ghali, Cecilia Bartoli, Lang Lang and Matilda De Angelis.
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Are tickets available for the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Tickets for the opening ceremony are currently available for purchase online, with prices ranging from €260.00 (approximately US$311) to €2,026.00 (approximately US$2,427).
Milan Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony, Friday, February 6, February 1 and August 7, NBC and Peacock
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