World-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli has been confirmed as a headline performer for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, adding his iconic voice to a star-studded event. The announcement was made by organisers on Sunday, 11 January 2026.
A Spectacle Across Italy
The main event will be held at Milan's legendary San Siro football stadium on 6 February 2026, featuring the traditional Parade of Athletes and a three-hour entertainment spectacle. Reflecting the uniquely dispersed nature of these Games, segments of the ceremony will also be broadcast from three other key locations: Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, Livigno in the Italian Alps, and Predazzo in Trentino. This innovative approach ensures athletes from all far-flung venues can participate in the moment.
Star-Studded Line-Up and Special Tributes
Bocelli joins the previously announced pop icon Mariah Carey, who adds major American star power to the proceedings. Carey confirmed her involvement via an Instagram post stating, "Ci vediamo a Milano." The ceremony will also feature a poignant tribute to the late Italian fashion maestro Giorgio Armani, who passed away in September 2025. Armani, who long designed the Italian team's Olympic kits, left an indelible mark on Milan's cultural and sporting landscape.
Further adding to the theatrical flair, Italian actors Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus) and Matilde De Angelis (The Law According to Lidia Poët) will take part. The production is led by veteran Olympic ceremony director Marco Balich.
Bocelli's Olympic Moment
Organisers stated that Bocelli's performance "will constitute one of the most iconic moments of the event, uniting the spectacle with the essence of Olympic values," and will lend a "contemporary and global tone." The classically trained crossover tenor, who has performed for historic occasions including the coronation of King Charles III, will appear during a break from his world tour. His schedule highlights the global nature of the event; he is due to perform in Columbus, Ohio, the very next day, 7 February.
The ceremony is expected to draw a live audience of 60,000 spectators at San Siro, with a global television audience numbering in the hundreds of millions. In a related announcement, ballet star Roberto Bolle has been confirmed to headline the closing ceremony in Verona's ancient Roman Arena on 22 February.
