The 2026 Winter Olympics are kicking off with a huge performance. Snow queen Mariah Carey will be singing at the opening of the storied sporting event, kicking off a ceremony that will include appearances from notorious Italian figures.
© Houston Chronicle via Getty ImagCarey shared the news in a video shared on her social media, wearing a dress and addressing the camera directly. "Get ready for Milano Cortina 2026," she said. "See you at the Stadio San Siro on the sixth of February for the Olympic Opening Ceremony."
Other performers joining Carey include the Italian-Tunisian rapper Ghali, who'll be singing in Italian, French, and English, Latin-American icon Laura Pausini, and Andrea Bocelli, one of the most successful Italian performers in recent memory. Actors and personalities will also be featured, including Pierfrancesco Favino and Sabrina Impacciatore, known for her work in "The White Lotus."
The Milan Cortina Games Opening will be hosted from different locations, airing in three venues apart from Milan headquarters, including Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. The event is expected to be viewed by over 2 billion people.
© Getty ImagesMore details about the ceremony
The Olympics opening will take place tonight, Friday, February 6th, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT on NBC/Peacock. It's scheduled to last two hours and is directed by Marco Balich, who's been involved with 15 Olympic ceremonies in the past. He was also involved in the 2022 FIFA World Cup ceremony in Qatar.
“It’s my tribute to the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, who was Milanese by adoption,” said Balich to the Italian publication Corriere della Sera. “There are also tributes to Bruno Munari and Giorgio Armani, who are also perfect examples of 'Made in Italy' and of a thoroughly Ambrosian spirit that over time has transformed Milan into what is, in all respects, a great Milan.”
© Getty ImagesThe event will gather 3,500 athletes and over 1,300 performers, with some Italian outlets suggesting that Tom Cruise might make an appearance representing the handover of the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be hosted in Los Angeles. While it's unknown if he'll be featured as he was in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Cruise is definitely attending the sporting event, with his appearance confirmed by local media. He's one of the ambassadors of the L.A. 2028 Games.
“The Olympics are not just sports. They are really a major entertainment event where the world kind of stops,” said JB Perrette, the chief of global streaming at Warner Bros. Discovery.
This year, the US is entering the Olympics with its largest Winter Olympics team yet, having 232 athletes in its roster, including alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, snowboarder Chloe Kim, and more.
© Andy Cheung
