Cortina, Italy, will host the Winter Olympics 2026 after 7 decades. Fans are excited to witness the much-awaited opening ceremony, which will be held at San Siro Stadium in Milan on Friday, February 6, at 20:00 CET. The 19-day event will be hosted across 15 competition venues in four major cities: Milano, Cortina, Valtellina, Val di Fiemme, and Verona.

While sports like Luge, Skimo, and Alpine Skiing would be the new delight to watch, around 2,900 athletes from 92 nations will compete in 116 medal events across 16 disciplines, making it worth watching. However, disappointing news for Russian and Belarusian fans: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that no opening will be given to Russian or Belarusian teams or individual athletes.

Interestingly, this would be the fourth time Italy has hosted an Olympic event, including the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. The first-ever Winter Olympics for Italy were held in Cortina in 1956. It was historic! That was the time when a woman took the Olympic Oath, and it was televised worldwide. Then, there were the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, which transformed the city into a modern sporting hub.

Now, 70 years later, it is coming back to where it started. The unique thing about these Winter Olympics is that they will be the first Olympic Games to be officially co-hosted by two cities. While Milan will host the ice events, the remaining events will be held in the Cortina, Valtellina, and Fiemme valleys.

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Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: What is in it for you?

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The unique architecture of San Siro Stadium is a delight to watch. Photo by Berke Can from Pexels

The Opening Ceremony is themed "Armonia," meaning Harmony. It is produced by Balich Wonder Studio, known for its immersive brand experiences. They have redesigned and produced large-scale ceremonies, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar. Usually, the Olympics start in one stadium, but in 2026, Italy is hosting a "widespread" ceremony.

The main stage would be San Siro Stadium in Milan, home to Serie A teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. This is where all the athletes will march in for the "Parade of Nations." Interestingly, the athletes competing in the snow will have simultaneous celebrations in Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo. 

For the first time, there is not just one cauldron but two. They look like high-tech, moving sculptures inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci. One of them will be lit in Milan, and the other in Cortina, at the same time, to signify the unity of the two cities. There will be performances by top musicians, including Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and Lang Lang. Besides, you might see Sabrina Impacciatore and Pierfrancesco Favino, making it a big star-studded event.

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Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Where to stream online?

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A couple relaxing and watching TV on a soft. Photo by CottonBroStudio from Pexels

Not everyone can be in Milan to experience the thrill. The three-hour spectacle will stream live on various platforms from 14:00 ET or 11:00 PT for North American viewers on February 6. The American audience has Peacock as their primary streaming platform. In contrast, NBC or CBC Gem can be a good alternative for enjoying the moments.

The Australian audience can use 9Now as it is the official free-to-air streaming partner. Besides, the United Kingdom's BBC iPlayer and Discovery+ are best for comprehensive multilingual feeds. Apart from that, RAI will host the domestic livestream, and apps like JioCinema and JioStar provide live coverage in India via Viacom18 networks.

Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: How to book tickets online and how much does it cost?

If you want the live stadium experience, nothing can replace the real thrill of the stadium. You can still book the tickets for the San Siro opening ceremony via the Official Milano Cortina 2026 website. Sales are still ongoing, but popular categories are selling out fast.

The price of a ticket ranges from $306 USD for Category D to $2,382 USD for premium Category A. Mid-range seats can cost between $700 and $1,400 USD. The Hospitality packages can elevate your experience with a lounge and buffet, but would cost between $3,835 USD and $10,560 USD.

Here is how you can book the tickets online:

  • Visit the event page (tickets.milanocortina2026.org), select sessions like OCER01.

  • Create an account, and purchase tickets securely, expect ID verification and dynamic pricing.

  • Pick your session based on your sports or location. You can buy up to 4 tickets for ceremonies, and up to 10 tickets in one go for other sports.

  • The Italian law requires your tickets to be nominative. Thus, you will enter each attendee's name and pay by credit card, preferably a VISA card.

  • Your tickets would not be emailed as a PDF. Hence, you must download the Tickets Milano Cortina 2026 app, and your secure QR code will appear in the app 24 hours before the event.