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And with that, 60,000 spectators at the San Siro slip into the night. Time for me to go bed too. The games proper start tomorrow, with Great Britain taking on Canada at 9.05am in the mixed curling. Thanks for your messages during this long, whacky, but quite lovely opening ceremony. Good night!
The Italian night is kind – cold and dry. Ski-ing icon Gustav Thöni is one of the final flame carriers in Milan. The last torch bearers are raised up and finally the cauldron is alight at the Arco della Pace.
The cauldron is based on drawings by Leonardo de Vinci, and is truly gorgeous. A few seconds later, the identical Cortina cauldron at Piazza Angelo Dibona is lit too.
The games are open!
Fireworks go off as the Olympic cauldron under the Arco della Pace in Milan is lit by Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersThe Olympic flame is seen lit in the cauldron. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/ReutersOver in Cortina an identical cauldron which was designed by Marco Balich, is lit by Italian skier Sofia Goggia. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/APShare
Updated at 17.49 EST
We’re killing time now for the flag to arrive at the Milan cauldron. A young girl gazes at a model of the solar system, only for a real life italian astronaut to tap her on the shoulder. More dancing.
Updated at 17.39 EST
Lang Lang, all in white, plays on a white piano at the San Siro, as Olympic flags are raised in the stadium and in Cortina. Now the Olympic oath, in Italian.
Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and pianist Lang Lang do their thang. Photograph: Mike Segar/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.22 EST
The torch has gone, and will reappear near the cauldron outside the stadium.
Milanese rapper Ghali performs Gianni Rodari’s Memorandum in four different languages. From nowhere, Charlize Theron, to read some words from Nelson Mandela.
And now the slow approach of the Olympic flag carried by a selection of incredible humans.
Actor Charlize Theron performs during the ‘Dove of Peace’ performance. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 17.58 EST
The torch makes its way round the stadium as Bocelli reaches a glorious crescendo. Two of the bearers are the great Italian footballers Franco Baresi and Beppe Bergomi, both played at the San Siro and both captained Italy.
Singer Andrea Bocelli performs as the Olympic torch is carried round the stadium. Photograph: Ben Curtis/APShare
Updated at 17.19 EST
“The IOC President is showing her stamina,” writes Simon Morris, “she’s been saying the same thing for the last 10 minutes at least. Sack her speech writer.”
A fair comment.
She’s done at last and hands over to the Italian president Sergio Mattarella. The torch is on the way but while we wait for it a spot of Nessun Dorman from a black polo-necked Andrea Bocelli. It’s as spine tingling as ever.
Updated at 17.48 EST
Now Kirsty Coventry, the first female IOC president, and only the second non European, the owner of seven Olympic medals and five times an Olympian.
She addresses the athletes directly: “I know what it feels like, that mixture of excitement and nerves. Your whole life of early mornings, sacrifices, it all comes down to this. So first of all, be proud and take it all in, enjoy every second. Over the next two weeks you’ll show us what it is to be human… that strength isn’t just about winnings, its about courage, empathy and heart.”
IOC President Kirsty Coventry waxes lyrical. Photograph: Yves Herman/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.11 EST
Now to the speeches. First from the president of the Milano-Cortina organising committee, Giovanni Malagò These games are unique, he says: “pioneering, respecting of the environment, most gender-balanced ever, and with the spirit Italiano. Italian beauty does not belong to us but has been entrusted to us, it lives only if it is passed on…” He’s quite charming.
And a welcome email from Dan:
“Pleased to say Hazel Irvine hasn’t forgotten her roots, name checking Dave Gilbert in the context of an Olympic opening ceremony. The Angry Farmer shares his walkon with a blistering figure skating routine apparently!
“Class. Enjoy the games”
Thank you Dan. You too.
Updated at 16.49 EST
Lots of magnificent lighting, as orchestrated by Bruno Poet, and we’re back in 2026.
Quite a cute guide to Italian hand gestures, which doesn’t overstay its welcome, and here come the flags.
And finally, magnificently clad in Armani, Italy. Very happy they look too.
The athletes take their places, and are replaced by more dancers. This is a bit more straightforward for those of us who are a bit more basic. We go back in time to the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924. A phone rings from the 1960s and the main character leaps forward in time. Now to the 1980s, complete with a giant walkman and lots of florescent ski suits.
The Italian athletes look to be enjoying themselves as they make their way to the stage. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 16.51 EST
“How about a shout out for another of GB’s representatives this evening,” writes Edward Poet. “ The man behind the lighting design for the event.”
Edward, I’m sorry I don’t know how to link to the Instagram post – but huge congratulations to Bruno and his team. What a CV!
“@Bruno_Poet_Lighting is an award-winning lighting designer with experience across theatre, concerts, opera, and large-scale events. His work includes Miss Saigon and TINA: The Tina Turner Musical (West End, Broadway, International Tours), Akhnaten at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and multiple UAE National Day ceremonies.”
The biggest cheer of the night for the team from Ukraine. They are, of course, in yellow and blue. The flag bearer, Vladyslav Heraskevych, has said that Ukrainian athletes may protest against the Russian and Belarusian Neutral Athletes during the games.
Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine leads his contingent in the athletes parade. Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters
Tiny Venezuela are followed by huge USA, 232 athletes in cream duffle coats. And there’s JD Vance and his wife. It sounds from here as if the team get a warm reception, but the BBC commentator says it is “mixed.”
Flagbearer Erin Jackson leads out the USA USA USA. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 17.23 EST
“Why,” asks Kurt Perleberg, “is the John Lennon peace anthem “Imagine” played every single Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games?” I don’t think it is, is it? Embarrassed to say I’ve missed it if it happened this time around.
Ah, Google tells me that it is often played – presumably to encourage peace and harmony. The Pope echoed similar sentiments in a letter: ““In a world thirsting for peace,” he wrote, “I wholeheartedly encourage all nations to rediscover and respect this instrument of hope that is the Olympic Truce, a symbol and promise of a reconciled world.”
Three Serbian skiers are followed by a lone young athlete from Singapore, and a large contingent of smiling Slovakians.
The flag bearer for Spain is British-born Olivia Smart, who swapped allegiances in 2017, and also won Dancing on Ice in 2023.
And huge cheer for Italy’s neighbours Switzerland, who had their best Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The Mongolian outfits are as magnificent as promised. Narnia meets the east Asian plains. “What we carried through winter, we carry to the world.”
Ariuntungalag Enkhbayar, the flag bearer of Mongolia, and teammates take part in the athletes parade. Photograph: Matthias Schräder/APShare
Updated at 16.24 EST
“Hi Tanya. On the other side of the stadium to you guys, but team GB look like walking piano accordions from up here.”
Hello Jnorring! I wish I was the other side of the stadium, but unfortunately I’m on my sofa in Manchester.
The Olympic and Paralympic winter games mascots are Tina and Milo, a pair of stoats. Actually, they’re very cute ,but nothing can beat 2012’s Wenlock and Mandeville.
Very keen on the stitching on the Mexican jackets. And Norway’s jumpers are on point.
Updated at 17.50 EST
A small group of athletes from Israel enter, without any noticeable reaction from the crowd in any way, and then Kazakhstan, the largest landlocked country in the world. We must be about half way through now.
Updated at 17.17 EST
Enter Iceland, closely followed by an email from Kari Tulinius.
“How is Iceland bad at winter sports? The two main reasons are, one, there’s not that many of us, and two, the weather’s not good for winter sports. The island regularly gets battered by storms coming up the Gulf Stream from the south, and the warm air and rain melts ice and snow. But oh hey! There’s our people! I’ll be cheering them on.” I am educated, thank you!
Enter 53-man/woman strong-team GB, dressed by Ben Sherman. The dominant sartorial items here are big scarves emblazoned with GREAT BRITAIN. Princess Anne and her husband smile – not grin – from the stands, wearing the same scarves. Tiny Lilah Fear carries the flag.
Lilah Fear leads the Team GB athletes to the stage during the athletes parade at the opening ceremony. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 15.45 EST
The multi gold-winning German squad look great in poncho-type drapes. Their specialism? Sliding events. Dynamic luge duo Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt are on the hunt for their seventh and eighth gold medals this Games
Jamaica’s heirs to Cool Runnings dance into the arena, while we are told that 70 percent of Japan’s team are Gen Z .
It’s poncho time. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 17.15 EST
Lots of bouncing Danes, in practical beige jackets are followed by a small team from equatorial Ecuador, all in black. As are the UAE, Winter Olympic debutants, as Kari said.
“Hello Tanya,” hello Kari Tulinius!
“It’s always thrilling to see countries debut at the Winter Olympics, like Benin now. It’s been really heartening to see winter sports spread further afield. Apparently Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates are the other debutants this time around. Anyway, back to waiting for Iceland’s contestants. We suck at winter sports, incidentally, despite what Hollywood will tell you.”
But Kári – how?
A large Chinese contingent are also busy with flags – the men are in royal blue puffas, the women, ice blue. While Colombia’s jackets rock – long and yellow with huge red pockets.
The Czechs, in geometric jumpers, culottes and long socks, are very enthusiastic flag wearers. While Chile wear delicious long navy tail coats with brass buttons.
Czech out the natty geometric outfits. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 15.58 EST
There are a lot of Canadians, 207 to be precise, and 109 of them are Olympic debutants. They are extremely enthusiastic in enormous puffas, decorated with half a Maple leaf on either of the zip. They’re great actually.
Updated at 14.59 EST
“Hopefully Danny Boyle got royalties,” writes William M Gilmore.
Brazil, incidentally, are in blow up bin bags.
I am enjoying Belgium’s yellow tracksuits, think lego people.
Next is Benin, who are one of eight African countries represented in these Olympics.
To add to the confusion, those athletes in the mountains are emerging from different venues than the San Siro. Which means that in some cases countries are represented only by a model in an enormous silver reflective robe and wraparound sunglasss.
Albania sport long grey puffas, Andorra zebra-striped tracksuits, while Saudi Arabia’s team of three are in traditional robes. Australia bounce in the usual green and gold but with white mittens.
Updated at 14.50 EST
I’m not exactly sure how, but the five rings have come congregated in Olympic formation and sparkle above everyone’s heads. And everyone is welcomed to the first wide-spread Winter Olympic games – taking place over a large area of north Italy. Now, the main business of the evening, the athletes’ parade.
Artists perform as the Olympic rings come together above them. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianThey come together and it’s pyro time. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 15.21 EST
Dancers in moss green congregate around a giant roll of Sellotape, two giant rolls of Sellotape – ah the Sellotapes become two of the Olympic rings. Up they go into the Milan sky, while harmony appears to have setlled on earth, at least for the next minute.
Artists perform in the air between the rolls of floating Sellotape. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 17.52 EST
The flag slides up the pole and obediently billows in the (artificial?) wind. The anthem is sung. While over in Cortina, a violinist is in conversation with the mountain.
Back at the San Siro, a poem gets a huge roar, as we enter a section that questions how to balance human ambition and the natural world. Be nice if they could work that out over the next couple of weeks.
Mariah gently blows a kiss to a very happy audience and we segue into three dancing heads of Italian composers jiving to some Europop.
Now a section devoted to Giorgio Armani, who died last year. Apparently some of his last sketches were for these games. A catwalk of models in green, red and white stride in unison. A beautiful woman in white, the face of Armani’s last collection, hands an ironed Italian flag to a military man in a spectacular uniform of brass buckles and tight white trousers.
A snippet of Nessun dorma and some fireworks finish off the first section. And then… MARIAH! In huge glittery dress, snow-white feather boa and diamonds, with tumbling golden waves down to her ribs. Even her microphone is sparkly.
Mariah Carey sprinkles some glamour onto proceedings. Photograph: Peter Kneffel/PAShare
Updated at 14.29 EST
From ballet to opera, then giant paint tubes of red, yellow and blue drop matching silk scarves into the centre of the San Siro. It’s pretty spectacular actually. Now a multi-coloured array of performers parade on and around the stage in a grand Passeggiata.
Paint tubes and a parade of characters representing Italian imagination and creativity. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 15.59 EST
The opening countdown features beautiful Italian places and beautiful Italian faces. In the centre of the San Siro human statues are static in display boxes, then Cupid wakens Psyche with a kiss ….
And the statues come to life. Photograph: Joel Marklund/Bildbyrån/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 14.21 EST
Thanks Billy. The red lights are on in the San Siro, the crowd cheers. The theme – harmony. Here we go.
Tanya Aldred has returned just in time. She will be your guide to the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, starting any moment.
We are minutes away from the start of the opening ceremony. The San Siro is decked out in red and black lights – Inter fans might be a bit peeved off.
Don’t forget you can keep across the Games using our live page:
The British flag-bearers for this evening are Brad Hall and Lilah Fear. Hall is the most successful men’s bobsleigh pilot in British history with 30 World Cup medals. Fear, who won Britain’s first global ice skating medal in 30 years alongside Lewis Gibson in 2025, started her Games earlier today in the figure skating team event.
Get all clued up with our range of previews for Milano Cortina 2026:
Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli are the headline acts tonight. There are more A-listers from Italian pop culture, including actors Pierfrancesco Favino and Sabrina Impacciatore, singer Laura Pausini, rapper Ghali and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli. China’s world-famous pianist Lang Lang will also perform.
There will be stars in the stands too, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Jeff Goldblum, Boris Becker and, of course, Snoop Dogg having arrived for the ceremony.
Snoop Dogg, having changed out of his curling garb into more suitable threads and a natty hat, poses for a photo prior to the Olympic opening ceremony. Photograph: Misper Apawu/AP2026 Winter Olympic mascots Milo and Tina are also in the house. Photograph: Maxim Thore/Bildbyrån/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 14.02 EST
A reminder of how the opening ceremony is going to be conducted:
The showpiece event will be centered in Milan’s landmark San Siro stadium, featuring the Parade of Athletes and entertainment over the course of the nearly three-hour spectacle. About 60,000 people are expected to attend San Siro, including a US delegation led by the vice-president, JD Vance.
Because the Games are spread out across Italy, elements of the opening ceremony including the procession of athletes will also be conducted in three other locations. Moments will be beamed to the televised audience from Cortina d’Ampezzo in the heart of the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps as well as Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento.
There will be two cauldrons – an Olympic first – inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies: one in Milan, at the Arco della Pace and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina. The cauldrons will be lit simultaneously. The identities of the final torchbearers won’t be revealed to the world until they step into the spotlight tonight.
The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September at the age of 91. Armani had long designed the Italian team’s Olympic uniforms, and his legacy as one of the founders of Italian ready-to-wear is tightly tied to Milan.
Thanks Tanya. The stands are filling up nicely at San Siro ahead of the start of the opening ceremony at 7pm (GMT). After protests against ICE earlier today, demonstrations on other topics have been going on throughout the afternoon. The latest:
– With the opening ceremony due on Friday evening, Italian authorities ordered schools in central Milan to remain shut and blocked access to some areas to bolster security and ease traffic disruptions.
In the afternoon, a separate demonstration was held in a square near the San Siro stadium, where the opening ceremony will take place. A few hundred people – including a committee of public-housing tenants protesting against the high cost of living, and the Unsustainable Olympics Committee, which accuses the government of funnelling public funds rather than supporting lower-income residents – marched against what they see as the social and economic impact of the Games.
Protesters say the Olympics are a waste of money and resources while housing prices are unaffordable and public meeting places scarce. Some demonstrators also chanted slogans criticising Israel and expressing support for Palestinians.
On Thursday, environmental group Greenpeace staged a protest in front of Milan’s cathedral, protesting the role of Italian oil major Eni as a sponsor of the Games. Later on Friday a torchlit march organised by a protest movement against the Games is expected in an area close to the site of the opening ceremony. Reuters
Updated at 13.12 EST
I’m going to take a quick break now, Billy Munday will guide you through the next hour as the opening ceremony approaches.
In the world’s most fashionable city, there is pressure on the team outfits to deliver. The money is on Mongolia once again making a splash, with uniforms inspired by the Great Mongol Empire of the 13th-15th century. Or, as the official Instagram account puts it:
“Through these designs, we proudly present to the global sporting stage the resilience, wisdom, and warrior spirit forged over thousands of years by Mongolians who have endured the eternal winters of the Central Asian highlands.”
The athletes will be parading not only in the San Siro, but also at Predazzo, Livigno and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Updated at 13.05 EST
A reminder to stay ahead of the games by signing up for our daily briefing. It will arrive in your inbox before you’ve had your first cup of tea of the morning.
Updated at 13.06 EST
Tonight’s opening ceremony, which kicks off at 7pm, will be held in two cities – Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo – with two matching Olympic flames. The Milan celebrations will unfold in the towering San Siro, concrete stadium of dreams, broken and made, which takes its final bow on the international stage before demolition. Below, Nicky Bandini says farewell.
Good news for Minions fans: Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate has been given last-gasp permission to skate to his usual theme music, taken from the score to the Minions film.
This means that spectators will be able to see him perform his dashing routine in a classic yellow T-shirt and blue dungarees combo, after threats that he would have to swap the music because of copyright problems.
Updated at 12.26 EST
Summary
That’s it for the live action, so a quick glance at what has unfolded today:
Great Britain’s mixed doubles curling team beat Sweden (7-4) and Korea (8-2). The defending champions Italy also got off to a winning start, triumphing over Switzerland (7-4) and Switzerland (12-4). The US edged out frenemies Canada (7-5), and the Czech Republic (8-1) while Norway thrashed neighbours Sweden (9-0).
In the women’s ice hockey, Japan beat France (3-2) and Switzerland the Czech Republic (4-3) in a sudden-death thriller late in the afternoon.
Lots to enjoy in the ice-dancing. The United States are first in the team standings, with Japan two points behind, and Great Britain in eighth.
A week after rupturing the ACL in her left knee, Lindsey Vonn opened her chase for Olympic gold at 41 with an aggressive and successful downhill training run two days before the race.
JD Vance, who will be in the audience at the San Siro for the opening ceremony, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, a fellow conservative, hailed their “shared values”.
University and high school students have gathered in front of the Politecnico di Milana to protest against the presence of ICE agents at the games.
Updated at 12.15 EST
Ice hockey: Switzerland beat Czech Republic 4-3 (shootout). After five shots each, the teams are level 3-3, and slide into sudden death. Some outstanding goalkeeping keeps things going a little longer, but the debutant Swiss take the win, thanks to a goal from Ivana Wey.
Wey celebrates after scoring a penalty to win the match, Photograph: David W Černý/ReutersShare
Updated at 11.39 EST
Ice hockey: After a high-speed, high-stakes five minutes on ice, full of breakaways, sprawled bodies and a squaring-up, there were no more goals so, at 3-3, the crowd will be treated to a shootout.
Updated at 11.19 EST
Thanks Yara. It’s been a busy day zero at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Before we round things up, there is still something to play for at the PalaItalia.
Ice hockey: It’s crunch time in the one bit of live action left today – the women’s ice-hockey match between the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Switzerland came back from 1-3 down to tie the game and send it into sudden death overtime. If things are all square after five minutes, then we have a shoot-out.
Updated at 11.20 EST
That is all from me for today. Tanya Aldred is here to recap the day’s events and take you through the opening ceremony.
Ice hockey: Tereza Plosova adds one more for Czech Republic and they leads Switzerland 3-1.
Tereza Plosova of Czech Republic scores their third goal past Switzerland’s goaltender Saskia Maurer. Photograph: David W Černý/ReutersShare
Updated at 11.00 EST
Opening ceremony: The ice hockey game between Czeck Republic and Switzerland will be the day’s final bit of action. Then all eyes will turn to the opening ceremony.
The showpiece event will be entered in Milan’s landmark San Siro stadium, featuring the Parade of Athletes and entertainment over the course of the nearly three-hour spectacle. About 60,000 people are expected to attend San Siro, including a US delegation led by vice-president JD Vance.
Because the Games are spread out across Italy, elements of the opening ceremony including the procession of athletes will also be conducted in three other locations. Moments will be beamed to the televised audience from Cortina in the heart of the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps as well as Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento.
There will be two cauldrons – an Olympic first – inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies: one in Milan, at the Arco della Pace and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina. The cauldrons will be lit simultaneously. The identities of the final torchbearers won’t be revealed to the world until they step into the spotlight Friday night.
The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September at the age of 91. Armani had long designed the Italian team’s Olympic uniforms, and his legacy as one of the founders of Italian ready-to-wear is tightly tied to Milan.