The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games are officially underway after a vibrant opening ceremony across four locations. Milan's iconic San Siro was the primary venue, with parts of the ceremony also held in Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo. Despite concerns over the logistics of a multi-location setting, the production proceeded smoothly. Two Olympic cauldrons were lit — one in Milan and the other in Cortina — as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed a stirring rendition of 'Nessun Dorma' during the torch's entry at San Siro. The athletes' parade concluded with the Italian team receiving an overwhelming welcome.

Figure skater Lilah Fear carried the Great Britain flag in Milan, while bobsledder Brad Hall did the honors in Cortina. The Ukrainian athletes received the warmest welcome, with loud cheers for Team USA as well. However, the crowd reacted negatively when US Vice President JD Vance appeared on the big screen, and there were also boos for the Israel and Georgia teams.

Creative director Marco Balich structured the show's narrative around armonia, focusing on unity and collaboration, with sections celebrating Italian beauty and paying tribute to the late fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away in 2025. Mariah Carey performed in a dazzling outfit, delivering her take on 'Volare'. Giovanni Malago, president of the organizing committee, expressed pride in Italian craftsmanship in pulling off such a complex project.

Kirsty Coventry, the first female IOC president, declared the Games open, emphasizing the universal values of the Olympics: excellence, friendship, and respect. She urged athletes that their spirit is what defines humanity and inspires the Olympic vision of unity. As events like curling, figure skating, and ice hockey have already kicked off, the first gold medals of the Games are set to be awarded on Saturday.