News
ITALY – MARIAH CAREY IS THE FIRST MAJOR INTERNATIONAL GUEST OF THE MILANO CORTINA WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY BY BALICH WONDER STUDIO
Mariah Carey will be the first major international guest at the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, scheduled for February 6, 2026, at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.
Her presence is closely tied to the Ceremony’s guiding theme: Harmony. Music, as a universal language, will intertwine with sport and its values of equality and inclusion, transforming the event into a symbolic meeting of cultures and collective energies.
Globally recognized for her unmistakable voice and a musical legacy that spans generations and cultures, Mariah Carey fully embodies the emotional atmosphere accompanying the journey toward the Games.
In this context, music — a universal language that connects different stories and sensibilities — merges with the central theme of the Opening Ceremony: Harmony.
At San Siro, this principle will take shape through an encounter of cultures, creativity, and participation.
Sport, with its values of equality, respect, and inclusion, amplifies this narrative, turning Harmony into a shared experience. Together, music and sport will give life to a Ceremony where Harmony becomes a living experience — a symbolic place where communities meet, transcend boundaries, and recognize themselves as part of the same collective energy of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony, produced by Balich Wonder Studio (see news), will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a collective embrace weaving together Italian spirit, innovation, emotion, and the participation of world-class artists.
Below is the official rendering of the stage that will host the Ceremony at the San Siro Olympic Stadium: a scenic architecture featuring four ramps designed to connect with all the territories of the Games, enabling a “distributed” version of the athletes’ parade — a shared experience across Milan, Cortina, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme. Among the innovations, Italy will have four flag bearers: two men and two women (two in Milan and two in Cortina).
The delegations’ parade will be executed in an innovative and coordinated format across multiple locations, supported by a major television production effort.
The scenographic architecture thus becomes a metaphor for the unity of the country — where cities, mountains, and communities come together in a single narrative.
Joining the Ceremony will also be a stellar cast, including the already-announced Italian actress Matilda De Angelis: versatile, intense, and contemporary. She will be one of the narrative voices of the show, embodying Italian creative talent in dialogue with the world.
During the Ceremony, there will also be a special tribute to Giorgio Armani, a symbol of Italian excellence and a friend of sport, whose creativity, discipline, and passion reflect values that inspire national pride.
The event promises to be innovative, emotional, and deeply rooted in identity. Artistic Director Marco Balich has emphasized the goal of creating a Ceremony capable of speaking to the world while staying firmly grounded in Italian identity — starting with a proudly all-Italian production team, as highlighted by Balich himself.
A top-level team of creatives will work on the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony, led by Marco Balich, creator of several memorable Olympic Ceremonies. The team includes: Simone Ferrari, Creative Director and Deputy Creative Lead; Damiano Michieletto, Creative Director; Lida Castelli, Protocol Creative Director; Lulu Helbaek, Creative Director. They will be joined by: Paolo Fantin, Production Designer; Andrea Farri, Music Director; Massimo Cantini Parrini, Costume Designer.