Five biggest stories from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games opening ceremony: Mariah Carey, la moda and more

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are finally here.

The XXV Winter Olympiad kicked off its opening ceremony in Milan, Italy on Friday, Feb. 6. The four-hour event encompassed four cities, 93 nations and 102 years of Winter Olympic history.

Here are the five biggest stories from the ceremony:

A story of duality and compromise

Much of the opening ceremony revolved around a key question: How can we show off the beauty of winter sports without spoiling the beautiful landscapes they take place in?

It's a pressing issue for these Games. Geographically speaking, they're the biggest Winter Olympics in history, with events ranging from the city streets of Milan to the mountain heights of Cortina d'Ampezzo 250 miles to the northeast. Travel between these distant locations is difficult, and getting athletes from one place to another — especially for a central event like the opening ceremony — makes for a massive logistical and environmental challenge.

These Games solved it by not moving anyone anywhere. They pioneered the first split Parade of Nations, with athletes walking out simultaneously in the big city of Milan and the small mountain towns of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo. This switch offered a window into each of the major Olympic locations and saved thousands of athletes from time-consuming, environment-destroying trips across the Italian Alps. It was a brilliant way to bring people together with a minimum of fuss.

True diva energy

The first movement of the opening ceremony was carried by two divas: American singer Mariah Carey and Italian singer Laura Pausini. Carey showed up first to deliver a stunning rendition of "Volare" in the original Italian, while Pausini led a region-wide chorus in singing the Italian national anthem.

A focus on fashion

Germany's ponchos. Haiti's puffers. France's pastels. Mongolia's...everything. The Parade of Nations was filled with stunning, memorable looks, and what better place to show them off than the fashion-forward city of Milan?