Mariah Carey Headlines Milan-Cortina Opening as Crowd Cheers and Boos
Organizers staged a nearly three-hour Milan-Cortina opening on Feb. 6, 2026, with about 60,000 inside San Siro and simultaneous cauldrons in Milan and Cortina.
Overview
Organizers confirmed the Milan-Cortina opening ceremony on Feb. 6, 2026 ran nearly three hours at Milan's San Siro and included simultaneous cauldron lightings in Milan and Cortina.
The ceremony featured a high-profile performance by Mariah Carey, multimedia segments from Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo, and cultural tributes to Dante, Puccini and Giorgio Armani that organizers said framed the Games’ theme of "harmony."
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in comments this week she "hope[s] the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful," organizers cited, after on-site observers and stadium audio recorded sustained cheers for Ukraine and jeers for Israel and boos when Vice President J.D. Vance appeared on stadium screens.
Organizers said roughly 60,000 spectators attended San Siro, about 1,200 volunteers rehearsed since November, and government and organizing estimates put Italian spending for the Games at about $1.6 billion across roughly 8,500 square miles.
U.S. television and streaming partners scheduled live coverage at 2 p.m. ET with an 8 p.m. ET encore, and competitions in snowboarding, hockey, curling and figure skating had already begun as the Games continue through Feb. 22.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the opening ceremony as a staged, celebratory spectacle emphasizing culture and celebrity—e.g., USA TODAY's "hilarious" and "wholesome" descriptors and AP's "Harmony" theme—while acknowledging political dissent through crowd boos and Reuters' cost note, yet avoiding deeper critique of hosting or protests.
Sources (11)
FAQ
Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the cauldron in Milan, while Sofia Goggia lit the one in Cortina. All are Italian Olympic champion Alpine ski racers.
The ceremony included tributes to Dante, Puccini, Giorgio Armani, da Vinci, Pausini, Fellini, pasta, vino, and Italian opera composers like Rossini and Verdi, emphasizing themes of harmony, art, music, literature, and 'La Dolce Vita'.
The crowd cheered for Ukraine, jeered for Israel, and booed when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance appeared on screens, amid calls for respect from IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
Mariah Carey performed 'Volare', Andrea Bocelli sang 'Nessun Dorma', Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Games open, IOC President Kirsty Coventry spoke, and Giovanni Malago addressed the crowd.
Live coverage aired at 2 p.m. ET, with an encore at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, and related apps.
History
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