when does the us walk in the opening ceremony
The United States is expected to walk near the very end of the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, roughly between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), since the parade starts at 2:30 p.m. ET and Team USA is scheduled to be introduced third from last.
When does the US walk in the opening ceremony?
Quick Scoop
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan starts at 2:30 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local time in Italy). NBC will air it live in the U.S., with a primetime replay at 8:00 p.m. ET. Because of the parade order, Team USA will not walk early; they are positioned very close to the finale of the athlete procession.
Exact walking window for Team USA
- The ceremony is planned to last about three hours, from 2:30 p.m. to around 5:30 p.m. ET.
- Greece enters first as tradition, then most countries follow in alphabetical order. Italy, as host, goes last; France is second‑to‑last; the United States is scheduled to be third‑from‑last.
- Given that parade timing, Team USA is projected to enter between about 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. ET (late in the show, just before France and Italy).
So if you mainly want to see when the US walks in the opening ceremony , tuning in around 5:00 p.m. ET should catch their entrance, but being early is wise in case the pacing shifts slightly.
Why the US walks so late
- Host logic: The country hosting the current Games always enters last; in 2026 that’s Italy, so they close the parade in San Siro Stadium in Milan.
- Upcoming host status: The U.S. is hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and France is the host of the 2024 Summer Olympics; because of this, the U.S. is set to walk third‑from‑last and France second‑to‑last as special placements at the end of the parade.
This special positioning is meant to highlight recent and upcoming hosts, turning the final stretch of the parade into a kind of “host nations showcase.”
How to watch Team USA’s entrance
- Live TV: NBC will broadcast the Opening Ceremony live starting at 2:30 p.m. ET in the United States.
- Streaming: You can stream on Peacock and NBC’s digital platforms (NBC app, NBC Sports app, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com), which will carry the full ceremony including Team USA’s walk.
- Primetime encore: If you miss the live window, NBC plans an encore around 8:00 p.m. ET, where the US entrance will appear again in an edited primetime package.
For fans planning their viewing: block off roughly 4:45–5:45 p.m. ET if you only care about the US walk, but if possible start watching earlier to catch the build‑up and avoid any last‑minute schedule shifts.
Mini forum‑style angle & trending context
Right now, discussion threads and fan chats around Milano‑Cortina 2026 are focusing on three things:
- Late‑evening local start: With festivities beginning at 8:00 p.m. local time, European fans get a prime‑time show, while U.S. viewers see a mid‑afternoon live broadcast.
- San Siro setting: The iconic San Siro stadium in Milan is the centerpiece for the Opening Ceremony, which adds a football‑cathedral vibe to the Olympic parade of nations.
- Team USA storylines: From the large delegation size to flagbearers and Ralph Lauren‑designed outfits, there’s buzz around how the American team will look when they finally step out late in the parade.
In fan forums, one common tip is: “Turn it on at the start if you can, but if you’re racing home from work, make sure you’re in front of a screen by just before 5 p.m. ET if you don’t want to miss the US walk.”
Key facts at a glance
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ceremony date | Friday, February 6, 2026 (Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics) |
| Ceremony start time | 2:30 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local time in Milan) |
| Estimated Team USA walk time | Between ~5:00 and 5:30 p.m. ET |
| Parade position of USA | Third from last in the parade of nations |
| Who walks after USA? | France (second‑to‑last), then Italy (host nation, last) |
| Where is the ceremony? | San Siro Stadium, Milan |
| How to watch in the U.S. | NBC (TV), Peacock and NBC digital platforms (streaming) |
| Encore broadcast | Primetime presentation at 8:00 p.m. ET |