Heated Rivalry may be over, but fans of the popular gay sports romance can now turn to the excitement of the 2026 Winter Olympics to quench any winter sports-related thirsts.
This year’s Winter Olympics begin this week, spanning three weeks’ worth of athletic competitions with 3,000 athletes from 90 countries vying for 119 possible medals.
In preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, Watch With Us has everything you need to know about the historic event: when to watch, where to watch, who is performing and more.
When Is the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony will be held on Friday, February 6, at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST. There will also be a primetime broadcast scheduled for 5 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. EST. The entire ceremony will last three hours.
How Can I Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC, in addition to being live-streamed on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com simultaneously.
Who Is Hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
There’s a bit of a geographical twist to the Winter Olympics this year. The opening ceremony will actually be taking place in multiple locations, as will the entire Olympic Games. In the past, the games have been held at a single Olympic village, but this year they will span different areas across Northern Italy. Milan is set to be the main hub, while other events will take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Val di Fiemme and Livigno.
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony will be held at Milan’s San Siro stadium, where two cauldrons are set to be lit. One cauldron will be lit in front of the Arco della Pace in Milan, with the other in Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The aesthetics of both cauldrons are inspired by the work of famed Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
As always, there will be a dazzling musical performance at the opening ceremony, and this year the biggest name is none other than pop legend Mariah Carey. She will be joined by other iconic artists such as famed tenor Andrea Bocelli and singer Laura Pausini, who holds the distinction of being the only Italian artist to have a Grammy, Latin Grammy and a Golden Globe.
Other Italian star performers include actors Matilda De Angelis and Pierfrancesco Favino, rapper Ghali and The White Lotus star and Emmy nominee Sabrina Impacciatore.
Plus, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli are also scheduled to perform.
What Is The Theme of the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The theme of the opening ceremony is “Armonia,” which is Italian for “harmony.” This idea was spearheaded by creative lead Marco Balich.
Is Savannah Guthrie Covering the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
No. Due to the ongoing case involving her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie is no longer a part of NBC’s coverage of the 2026 Olympics. Sports legend Mary Carillo is scheduled to replace her as part of NBC’s broadcast team.
What Is the Schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
While the opening ceremony takes place on Friday, February 6, some events actually began two days earlier, on February 4. From there, sixteen days of competition will ensue through February 22, ending with the closing ceremony.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics officially open on Friday with figure skating and mixed doubles curling. Then, the first full week includes snowboarding, alpine skiing and freestyle events, along with downhill races, slopestyle, ski jumping and big air finals.
Between February 12 and 16, we’ll see halfpipes, snowboard cross, speed skating finals and moguls, plus the beginning of ice hockey and bobsleigh medal rounds.
The final week will feature ski mountaineering, aerials, figure skating, slalom and snowboard finals, four-man bobsleigh, men’s and women’s curling gold medal matches, men’s hockey finals and women’s 50 km cross country.
The closing ceremony will take place in Verona.
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