Details you missed in the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, where athletes and spectators gathered for performances that celebrated Italy’s music, fashion, arts, and culture. Parts of the ceremony also took place in Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno, reflecting how events will be spread across Italian regions.

Italy is spending an estimated $1.6 billion to host the 2026 Winter Olympics. Choreography and costume design leaned into Italian artistic history: two dancers dressed as angels evoked Antonio Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, and Antonella Albano and Claudio Coviello performed with the ballet company.

Other dancers took the stage as musical notes in tributes to Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini, while colorful outfits highlighted cuisine, architecture, and fashion — including performers dressed as moka coffee pots. Music and fashion intersected throughout the ceremony.

Italy, Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, Livigno