Olympic Opening Ceremony Milano Cortina 2026

Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

Armonia was the guiding principle of the entire Opening Ceremony: a narrative that united territories, people and values within a shared vision. For the first time in the history of the Games, the Ceremony unfolded across multiple locations, bringing together Milano, Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo in a single, real-time narrative.

The concept stems from the original meaning of Armonia, “bringing together what is different”, and found expression in the many voices that make up Italy: its culture, art, landscapes and communities. The result was a harmonious journey through the country’s colours and imagery, reflecting the meeting of city and mountain, humankind and nature, past and future.

Armonia is also a universal message: an invitation to peace, dialogue and the ability to build connections in a fragmented world. Different elements intertwined to create a global narrative, in which every place became part of a single experience.

Volunteers were the lifeblood of the Ceremony: a diverse community of 1,250 people, including students, workers, athletes, artists and citizens, who dedicated their time, energy and talent to shaping a collective project. Together with 27 talents, more than 1,400 costumes and over 700 hours of rehearsals across all locations, they brought Armonia to life.

According to data collected by the COO Division of IOC Insight and Analytics, the response was extraordinary: 70% of international respondents considered it the most memorable Winter Olympics Ceremony ever, and 87% said the Opening Ceremony inspired them to follow the Games.