Milano officially opened on Friday 6 February 2026 with the tradition Olympic Games Opening Ceremony seen by three billion people around the world. More than 35,000 professionals were involved on the night with the show featuring 12 samba schools and over 5,500 costumes.
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images
What do you get when you mix 92 National Olympic, Mariah Carey, giant bobbleheads, Italian models, time travel, and the best winter athletes in the world?
Friday, 6 February welcomed the world with a spectacle rich in art, history, and unmistakable Italian flair.
Inside the historic Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium, the scene shone with space suits, Italian opera, Olympic rings, and fireworks, a joyful recipe that set the tone for the weeks ahead.
Beginning that blossomed into a tribute to Italy itself. From opera and art to fashion, music and dance, the Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony unfolded as a vibrant celebration of culture. An explosion of colour, romance and theatrical flair that felt unmistakably Italian.
With seven venues spread across northern Italy, the ceremony promised a Games built on connection, imagination, and creativity.
Vittoria Ceretti
credits: Maja Hitij/Getty
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
- Some information :
Charlize Theron
Sarah Stier/Getty
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
UN Peace Ambassador Charlize Theron gives a speech inspired by South African leader Nelson Mandela.
"Peace is not just the absence of conflict," the actress said. "Peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference.”
credits: Fabrizio Carabelli/PA Images via Getty
Performers created a spectacle in rainbow-colored ensembles. Wow !
- Meet the Mascots
The 2026 Olympic Games will span over 22,000 square kilometers (nearly 8,500 square miles) across northern Italy, making it the most widely distributed Winter Games in history. The events will range from big cities like Milan to mountainous towns like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno and Anterselva.
The official mascots of the 2026 Games are the brothers Tina and Milo, animated stoats native to the Alpine region. Tina represents the mountainous, snowy region of Cortina d’Ampezzo, while Milo represents the big-city life of Milan.
Their names are inspired by the host cities: Tina from Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milo from Milano.
- ‘Skimo’ is the newest Winter Olympics sport :
Ski mountaineering (aka “skimo”) is making its debut at the Winter Games this year. combining relentless uphill climbing with technical downhill descents.
Essentially, athletes have to ascend the course uphill using climbing skins on their skis. Then they have to transition to bootpacking, which involves carrying skis on their packs, while still climbing uphill in their ski boots. Finally, the competitors have to race downhill on skis.
- Google Doodles:
Google Doodle is launched various animated doodles of sports since the start of Milano-Cortina Games 2026 inspired on the different games represented on this WOG2026.
Teachers can ask the students to follow every day and recognize the categories.
- Education
- Ideas & Resources for Teachers:
Let's talk about some curricula:
- Sciences/Geography; History/ Art: The Olympic Flame & Italy as a country.
Lindsay Vonn, who had to be airlifted to hospital for evaluation, wrote on Instagram "This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics... but if there's one thing I know how to do, it's a comeback. Vonn added: "My Olympic dream is not over."
Both Lindsey Vonn and the world knew she was attempting a fairytale previously unthinkable.
Years on from a titanium knee replacement, and nine days after another ACL rupture, the 41-year-old made her Olympic Winter Games return in the women’s downhill this Sunday.
Just a week after suffering a serious knee injury, Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 Alpine skiing downhill dreams came to an end, as she crashed out of the race on Sunday, 8 February.
The three-time Olympic medallist screamed in pain as she fell to the ground after clipping a gate on a right-hand turn just seconds into her run.
.The race was halted for more than 10 minutes before Vonn was airlifted away to Codivilla Hospital in Cortina for medical evaluation. So sad ! Vonn is one of the most successful Alpine skiers in history, having won gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at Vancouver 2010, as well as bronze in downhill at PyeongChang 2018.
- Civics & cross-curricular project : Values
Honesty, teamwork, respect, self-belief, passion and determination the six values to achieve personal excellence.
- Saving the Planet :
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