Parts of the opening ceremony also took place across three other sites in Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno, representing how Olympic events will be held across Italian regions. Italy is spending an estimated $1.6 billion to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, Reuters reported.
The ceremony's performances featured nods to Italian history and culture, and other countries added patriotic details to their opening ceremony uniforms.
Here are some details you may have missed.
In the opening dance, two dancers dressed as angels evoked "Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss," a sculpture by Italian artist Antonio Canova.
Italian ballet dancers Antonella Albano and Claudio Coviello perform during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
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Dancers dressed as musical notes took over the stage in a tribute to Italian opera composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Matilda De Angelis performs with three actors dressed as the great masters of Italian Opera, Giuseppe Verdei, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Colorful costumes represented numerous aspects of Italian arts, culture, cuisine, and architecture in a vibrant crescendo.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Actors dressed as a symbol of Italian fashion perform during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Some performers even dressed as brightly colored moka pots, coffee makers made in Italy.
Performers at the 2026 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
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Mariah Carey sang a mashup of the Italian song "Volare" with her hit "Nothing Is Impossible."
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Mariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Models walked into the stadium wearing Giorgio Armani suits in the colors of the Italian flag.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Models wearing creations designed by Giorgio Armani walk during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Aerialists performed between two rings representing the city of Milan and the mountains of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Two aerial actors perform next to the rings representing the city and mountain during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
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The two rings eventually fused with others to form the iconic five-ring symbol of the Olympics.
The Olympic rings surrounded by fireworks are displayed during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP via Getty Images)
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During the Parade of Nations, athletes from each country carried signs designed to look like blocks of ice.
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Athletes of Team Greece walk in the parade during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Piazza Dibona on February 06, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
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Team Brazil's outfits, designed by Moncler, included shorts made of the same material as their puffy coats.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Flagbearer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Team Brazil enters into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Designer Stella Jean created bold uniforms for Haiti's Olympic team inspired by the art of Edouard Duval Carrié.
VAL DI FIEMME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Flagbearer Stevenson Savart of Team Haiti enters with his teammate into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
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Team Great Britain's looks featured scarves created by a fellow Olympian and avid knitter, Tom Daley.
Team Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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Team USA's Ralph Lauren ensemble included white wool coats and patriotic sweaters.
Team USA at the 2026 Olympics opening ceremony.
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After the parade, another dance number featuring "White Lotus" star Sabrina Impacciatore took viewers back in time for a look at the history of the Olympic Games in Italy.
Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore (above) performs during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
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It featured the song "Prisencolinensinainciusol" by Italian comedian Adriano Celentano, written in gibberish meant to sound like English.
A dance number at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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Andrea Bocelli sang the Italian aria "Nessun dorma" as the Olympic torch entered the stadium.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Andrea Bocelli performs as the Olympic flame is carried in the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Dancers formed the shape of a dove in a segment about peace.
A general view of performers make a shape of the Dove of Peace under the Olympic Rings during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
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Charlize Theron made an appearance to speak about Nelson Mandela's legacy of peace.
Charlize Theron at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony featured the lighting of two Olympic cauldrons, one in Milan and one in Cortina.
A torchbearer carries the Olympic torch for a symbolic relay during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
