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when are the opening ceremonies for the olympics

The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina is scheduled for Friday, 6 February 2026.

Quick Scoop: Opening Ceremony Timing

  • Date: 6 February 2026 (Friday)
  • Local start time (Milan): 8:00 p.m. Central European Time (CET), as reflected in official countdowns and ticketing information.
  • US Eastern Time (live window): Coverage and listings place the start around 2:00–2:30 p.m. ET, with broadcasts often rounded to 2 or 2:30 p.m. ET for TV scheduling.
  • TV & streaming (US): NBC plans live afternoon coverage plus a primetime replay around 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms.

Where and what to expect

  • Venue: San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) in Milan will host the opening ceremony.
  • Theme & production: The show is titled “Armonia” (“Harmony”) and is produced by Banijay Live (Balich Wonder Studio), bringing together different artistic elements under that concept.
  • Notable performers: Plans include performances by Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, and Andrea Bocelli as part of the show.
  • Usual elements: You can expect the parade of nations, lighting of the cauldron, artistic segments, and musical performances spread over roughly three hours, which is typical for an Olympic opening ceremony.

If you’re planning to watch

  • In Italy/central Europe , tune in a little before 20:00 CET on 6 February to catch pre-show build‑up.
  • In the US , you can either:
    • Watch the afternoon live window (around 2–2:30 p.m. ET), or
    • Wait for the edited, enhanced primetime rebroadcast at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.