The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, scheduled from February 6 to 22, 2026, will mark a historic milestone with its uniquely dispersed Opening Ceremony. Organizers revealed on Thursday that the Parade of Nations will not only take place at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium, accommodating 60,000 spectators, but will also extend to three additional locations: Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno. This unprecedented format ensures athletes from all disciplines, regardless of their competition venues, can participate in the ceremony. Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee, emphasized the Opening Ceremony as a unifying moment, stating, ‘It is the moment that defines that edition of the Games, in their spirit.’ The event will highlight the duality of urban and mountain settings, symbolizing harmony amid global tensions. Each nation will have two flagbearers, with Italy, as the host, featuring four. The Olympic flame will burn simultaneously in Milan’s Arco della Pace and Cortina’s Piazza Dibona. The ceremony will also pay tribute to the late fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who designed Italy’s Olympic uniforms for decades. San Siro Stadium, set for demolition and replacement, will host its first and only Olympic Ceremony, cementing its legacy as a city icon.
The Milan-Cortina Olympic Opening Ceremony will spread across regions, like the Games themselves
