Two Days to Go: The Winter Olympics Are About to Begin

With just two days left until the start of the olympics, the atmosphere is shifting from nervous preparation to pure anticipation. Athletes are tapering their training, sharpening skis, checking skates, and trying to sleep despite the adrenaline. Meanwhile, the world is getting ready for the moment that officially opens the Games: the opening ceremony.

This is the part where sport meets spectacle.

Where the Opening Ceremony Takes Place

The opening ceremony will be held in Milan, at the legendary San Siro Stadium, also known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. With a capacity of more than 75,000 spectators, it is one of Europe’s most iconic stadiums and a symbol of Italian sport and culture.

Choosing Milan rather than a mountain venue underlines one of the core ideas of these Games: Milano-Cortina is a shared Olympics, spread across cities and regions, combining urban energy with alpine tradition. While many competitions will take place in the Dolomites and Alpine resorts, the ceremonial heart beats in Italy’s fashion and business capital.

What Will Happen During the Ceremony

As with all Olympic opening ceremonies, the structure follows tradition, but the execution will be uniquely Italian.

Expect the following key elements:

• The Parade of Nations, with athletes entering the stadium behind their flags, beginning with Greece and ending with Italy as the host nation.
• A strong focus on Italian culture, likely blending classical heritage with modern design, music, and fashion.
• The raising of the Olympic flag and the playing of the Olympic anthem.
• The athletes’ oath, taken on behalf of all competitors.
• The symbolic lighting of the Olympic cauldron, the moment that officially declares the Games open.

Italy has a reputation for theatrical flair, and the creative direction is expected to emphasize elegance, history, and emotion rather than sheer technical overload. Think storytelling, music, choreography, and visual symbolism rooted in centuries of culture.

Performers and Creative Direction

While full performer lists are traditionally kept secret until very close to the event, some things are already clear.

The artistic direction is led by Marco Balich, a well-known figure behind several major international ceremonies, including previous Olympic and large-scale global events. This alone suggests a ceremony with strong narrative flow rather than random visual noise.

As for performers, Italy has an enormous pool of internationally known artists, from classical musicians and opera singers to contemporary pop and electronic acts. Large-scale ceremonies often combine:

• Classical elements such as orchestras or opera voices
• Contemporary Italian music and visual art
• Carefully selected international contributions rather than headline pop concerts

In short: expect quality, restraint, and style rather than fireworks for the sake of fireworks.

A Truly Global Broadcast

The opening ceremony will be broadcast live around the world, allowing fans everywhere to be part of the moment. If you want to know exactly how to watch the ceremony in your country, including official broadcasters and streaming options, check this guide on how to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics worldwide using an in-text overview of broadcasters and access options:
Winter Olympics 2026 broadcasters and viewing options

Given time zone differences, many viewers will either set alarms or rely on replays—but the opening ceremony is one of those events people prefer to see live.

The Biggest Teams at the Games

Several countries are arriving with massive delegations, reflecting both winter sports depth and qualification success.

The largest teams are expected to include:

• United States – traditionally one of the biggest squads, covering almost every discipline.
• Germany – a powerhouse in sliding sports, biathlon, and alpine events.
• Canada – strong across ice hockey, skating, freestyle, and snowboarding.
• Norway – smaller in population, but extremely efficient and specialized.
• France – competitive across alpine, freestyle, and ice sports.

Host nation Italy will also field a large team, boosted by automatic qualifications and home advantage.

Who Is Expected to Win the Most Gold Medals?

If history is any guide, the gold medal race will likely come down to a familiar trio:

Norway enters the Games as the statistical giant of winter sports. With dominance in cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined, Norway is widely expected to top the gold medal table once again.

Germany is the main challenger, especially strong in luge, bobsleigh, skeleton, and biathlon. Germany’s ability to convert technical excellence into medals makes them incredibly consistent.

United States and Canada will battle closely behind, with strengths spread across freestyle skiing, snowboarding, speed skating, and ice hockey. While they may not dominate one single discipline like Norway, their medal spread is broad.

Italy will aim for its best Winter Olympics performance in decades, fueled by home crowds and familiarity with the venues.

Almost Time

Two days before the flame is lit, the pieces are finally in place. Athletes are ready, volunteers are in position, broadcasters are set, and Milan is preparing to welcome the world.

The opening ceremony will not just start the Games—it will set the tone for two weeks of competition, drama, and unforgettable moments on snow and ice.