Milan, February 6, 2026 — The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicked off Friday with an unprecedented opening ceremony spanning four locations and featuring a dual cauldron—but the spectacle was marked by a surprising absence at its central hub: zero athletes from the first five countries in the Parade of Nations appeared at Milan’s San Siro stadium.
A Ceremony of Firsts, and a Notable Absence
The opening ceremony blended Italian culture with modern spectacle, but a unique logistical setup led to an unusual outcome.
- The opening ceremony was held across four sites, including Milan and Cortina.
- Mariah Carey performed “Nel blu, dipinto di blu” (“Volare”) to enthusiastic applause.
- Two cauldrons were lit, one in Milan and one in Cortina, as a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci.
- The Parade of Nations’ dispersed format resulted in no athletes from the first five countries appearing at the San Siro stadium.
The ceremony paid tribute to iconic Italian figures and traditions, from da Vinci and Dante to Armani and Fellini, pasta and wine. Mariah Carey energized the crowd with a performance of the classic Italian song “Nel blu, dipinto di blu” – known globally as “Volare” – at Milan’s San Siro stadium.
A Unique Olympic Setup
This year’s Winter Games are the most geographically dispersed in history. Athletes participated in the Parade of Nations at various mountain locations, a decision that inadvertently led to the absence of competitors from the first five countries at the main ceremony in Milan’s San Siro stadium.
Fashion also took center stage, with Milan aiming to rival Paris’s stylish 2024 Summer Games. The ceremony’s organizers emphasized themes of harmony and peace, hoping to represent the unique city-mountain dynamic of these Games and foster a sense of unity amid global tensions.
“I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful,” said International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry this week.
Adding to the ceremony’s symbolism, two cauldrons were lit—an homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies. One cauldron is located in Milan, 2½ miles (4 kilometers) from San Siro, while the other is 250 miles (400 kilometers) away in Cortina. The identities of those who lit the cauldrons, following a nearly three-hour ceremony, remained a closely guarded secret, a tradition for Olympic opening ceremonies. At the 2006 Turin Games, Italian cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo had the honor.
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