Volunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
MILAN (AP) — Featuring tributes to da Vinci and Dante, Puccini and Pausini, Armani and Fellini, pasta and vino, and other iconic tastes of Italian culture — plus Mariah Carey hitting all the high notes in “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” aka “Volare” — an unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron opening ceremony got the Milan Cortina Olympics officially started Friday.
Here are some scenes from the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in photos.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2026.
Volunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckMariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVolunteers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckFreestyle skiers Mikael Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson carry the Canada flag for Team Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony in Livigno, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean KilpatrickFreestyle skiers Mikael Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson carry the Canada flag for Team Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony in Livigno, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean KilpatrickCanada’s delegation arrives during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckCanada’s delegation walk into the venue during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckCanada’s delegation walk into the venue during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckSouth Korea’s delegation arrives during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckGermany flag bearer, Edmonton Oilersâ Leon Draisaitl leads the German delegation during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe United Kingdom’s delegation arrives during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckUkraine’s delegation arrives during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe United States’ delegation arrives during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckDancers perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckArtists perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckArtists perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckUN Peace Ambassador Charlize Theron delivers a message during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe Olympic flag arrives during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe Olympic flag is raised during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe Olympic flag is raised during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckArtists perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckAndrea Bocelli performs as the Olympic flame is carried in during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteThe Olympic flame is carried during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteArtists perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckMilan Cortina 2026 foundation Giovanni Malago speaks as IOC President Kirsty Coventry, left, listens during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteThe Olympic rings are illuminated during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe Olympic rings are lit as artists perform during the opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Friday, February 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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