The 2026 Winter Olympics were officially declared open on Sunday, February 8th, 2026, as Italian President Sergio Mattarella inaugurated the Games in a historic ceremony featuring two Olympic cauldrons, one in Milan and the other in Cortina d’Ampezzo, marking the first time in Winter Games history that flames were lit in two host cities simultaneously.

The grand opening at Milan’s San Siro Stadium celebrated Italy’s rich cultural heritage with performances by global icons, including Andrea Bocelli, who sang “Nessun Dorma,” and Mariah Carey, who performed “Volare.” The lighting of the twin cauldrons concluded the Olympic flame’s 63-day journey across Italy, covering over 12,000 kilometres through 60 cities and 110 provinces.

The Parade of Athletes saw emotional moments as Ukraine received loud applause, while Team USA drew massive cheers from the crowd. Italy’s athletes, led by flag bearers Arianna Fontana and Federico Pellegrino, were greeted with the biggest ovation of the night.

American flag bearers Erin Jackson and Frank Del Duca represented Team USA, while the United Arab Emirates made its Winter Olympics debut with alpine skiers Alexander Astridge and Piera Hudson.

The three-and-a-half-hour ceremony ended with spectacular fireworks, setting the stage for the start of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.