The Olympic Games opening ceremony typically lasts around 3–4 hours.

Quick Scoop: How long is it really?

  • Recent Summer Games opening ceremonies (including Paris 2024) were planned for more than three hours , often stretching close to four hours total.
  • For Paris 2024 specifically, official info noted a four‑hour ceremony along the Seine.
  • The detailed timetable for the 2024 ceremony runs from about 19:30 to roughly 23:30 local time , which is just under four hours.

So if you’re planning to watch an Olympics opening ceremony, it’s safest to carve out a full four hours for the broadcast, since TV coverage often starts earlier and ends later than the formal program.