2026 Winter Olympics: Opening Ceremony and Early Highlights

Milano & Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially commenced on 6 February 2026, marking the start of a highly anticipated event that brings together elite winter sports athletes from across the globe. The opening ceremony, staged across multiple historic Italian venues, set the tone for a Games shaped by athletic excellence, milestone achievements, and deeply competitive performances in the early rounds of competition.

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Opening Ceremony: “Harmony” on the World Stage

The opening ceremony, titled “Armonia” (Harmony), took place principally at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium, with additional cultural performances and athlete parades in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. Italian President Sergio Mattarella formally declared the Games open, ushering in a nearly three-week program of competition scheduled through 22 February 2026.

Produced by Banijay Live and Creative Lead Marco Balich, the ceremony showcased Italy’s artistic heritage and global unity themes. Performances by internationally famed artists including Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, and Andrea Bocelli elevated the occasion, while the lighting of dual Olympic cauldrons — a first in Winter Games history — highlighted the collaborative spirit of the joint host cities.

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Historic Debuts and Global Representation

The Milan-Cortina Games underscored the expanding global reach of winter sports. Benin made its Winter Olympics debut with alpine skier Nathan Tchibozo serving as flagbearer, marking a milestone for the West African nation’s Olympic history.

Amid fanfare and fireworks, athletes from over 90 nations commenced competition in disciplines ranging from alpine skiing and snowboarding to speed skating and curling, reflecting the broad diversity and high stakes of international Olympic competition.

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Medal Standings and Early Competition Results

As events unfolded through the opening weekend and early competition days, several standout performances have already shaped the early medal table:

• Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida captured gold in the women’s 3,000m speed skating event, notching the host nation’s first gold medal of the Games in record-breaking fashion on her 35th birthday.
• Swiss alpine skier Franjo von Allmen emerged as a dominant force, securing two gold medals in the downhill and team combined events, bolstering Switzerland’s early position on the medal board.
• In women’s downhill skiing, Breezy Johnson of the United States clinched gold, not only gaining her country’s first medal of the Games but doing so amid dramatic circumstances including a crash by veteran Lindsey Vonn.

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam set a new Olympic record in the women’s 1,000m, adding another milestone to the Netherlands’ storied speed skating legacy.

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Additional Notable Results

In freestyle skiing, Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud defended her Olympic slopestyle title, while Chinese-representing star Eileen Gu earned silver — her second medal of these Games.

German ski jumper Philipp Raimund delivered a remarkable gold medal performance in the men’s normal hill competition, overcoming personal fears of heights to reach the top of the podium.

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Medal Tally Outlook

With competition deepening, the overall medal standings continue to evolve, with traditional winter sports powerhouses — including Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the Netherlands — prominently featured in early rankings. Official medal counts are updated daily by the International Olympic Committee and reflect intense rivalry across disciplines.

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Looking Ahead

The 2026 Winter Olympics schedule continues to deliver high-profile events, including mixed doubles curling finals, women’s and men’s hockey fixtures, biathlon, luge finals and further alpine and freestyle skiing competitions through the closing ceremony on 22 February.

As athletes strive for Olympic glory and new records unfold, the Milano Cortina Games promise a compelling narrative of resilience and excellence on the world’s winter sports stage.

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