The official kickoff for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games is set for Friday, with several highly anticipated events planned throughout the Opening Ceremony.
From international performances to the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic torch, the Opening Ceremony set for Friday afternoon is an Olympic tradition beloved by many regardless of what country they support.
NBC Chicago is adding to Friday’s festivities by hosting our own celebration ahead of the Opening Ceremony: a live ice carving of an Olympics-themed news desk that will be broadcast on our morning show starting at 6 a.m. CT. Family and friends of Chicago-area Olympic speedskaters Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman will be in attendance at the event that will also feature tunes played by the Horner Park Jazz Band.
Here’s a look at when and where you can watch the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games Opening Ceremony or catch a re-run of it later in the evening.
What time is the Opening Ceremony?
The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 6, at San Sire Olympic Stadium.
Organizers said they expect the ceremony to last approximately three hours.
2026 Milan Cortina
Watch all the action from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games live on NBC and Peacock
Where can you watch the Opening Ceremony?
NBC will air the Opening Ceremony live and it will be streamed live on Peacock, NBC Chicago’s streaming channel and NBC Olympics platforms.
Live coverage of the Opening Ceremony will start at 12:40 p.m. CT, 20 minutes ahead of the ceremony’s official start.
Anyone who misses the live coverage will have a second chance to watch the ceremony on NBC and those platforms when it re-airs on primetime starting at 7 p.m. CT.
The primetime coverage will have a greater focus on Team USA athletes.
What happens during the Opening Ceremony?
Several traditional Olympic events take place throughout the three-hour Opening Ceremony.
Among the events is the Parade of Nations, during which athletes from more than 90 counties will walk alongside their flag. A look at the order that countries will march in is available here.
Also during the Opening Ceremony is the raising of the host nation’s flag and singing of the host nation’s national anthem, and a variety of performances.
Who is performing?
A stacked lineup of performances is scheduled for the Opening Ceremony, aptly including artists from across the globe.
Here’s a look at some of the confirmed performers:
Mariah Carey
Italian actor Sabrina Impacciatore (from Season two of HBO’s “The White Lotus”)
Italian actor Matilde De Angelis (from the Netflix series “The Law According to Lydia Poet”)
Tenor Andrea Bocelli
Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini
Award-winning actor and producer Pierfrancesco Favino
When did the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics start? And when do they end?
Though the Opening Ceremony marks the official start of the 2026 games, several events Alpine skiing and curling kicked off the first events on Feb. 4.
Several other events will start before the Opening Ceremony, including figure skating, ice hockey, ski jumping, and snowboarding.
The 2026 games continue until the Closing Ceremony on Feb. 22.