who are the big heads at the opening ceremony

They’re a tribute to Italy’s legendary composers: the three “big heads” at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony represent Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini.

Quick Scoop: What’s the deal with the giant heads?

• The three oversized figures are stylized versions of Verdi, Puccini and Rossini, towering over the stage like surreal, living statues.

• They appear in a segment themed around harmony , tying Italy’s classical music heritage to the overall concept of the ceremony.

• Italian actress Matilda De Angelis “conducts” them as if they were masters of musical harmony brought to life for one night.

Why these “big heads” matter

• Verdi, Puccini and Rossini are among the most influential opera and classical music composers in Italian and global history, so using them as giant figures is a visual shorthand for “Italy’s musical soul.”

• The ceremony leans heavily into Italian cultural icons and art history, and the big heads add a slightly surreal, theatrical touch that viewers are talking about online.

In short: those huge faces aren’t random mascots – they’re opera giants turned into literal giants for the night.

TL;DR:
The “big heads” at the Milano–Cortina 2026 opening ceremony are giant representations of composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini, symbolizing Italian musical harmony.

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