Italian crossover tenor Andrea Bocelli is to headline the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics at Milan’s San Siro stadium on 6 February.
He joins the previously announced high priestess of pop Mariah Carey but it’s unclear for if the two will perform on stage together.
The show will feature the Parade of Athletes and entertainment over three hours, with elements also taking place in three other locations to allow athletes from all disciplines to celebrate the Milan Cortina Games’ status as the most spread-out Olympics in history.
Bocelli, known for his classical and pop music collaborations, will perform during a break from his world tour.
Details about the ceremony, which is being produced by Marco Balich, a veteran of more than a dozen Olympic ceremonies, have been trickling out over recent months.
Carey, the first international star named to perform at San Siro, adds some American pop-star pedigree to the opening event.
The six-time Grammy winner, announced her participation on Instagram, saying “Ci vediamo a Milano” (See you in Milan). The ceremony will also pay tribute to late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who designed the Italian team’s Olympic uniforms.
The event is expected to draw a massive audience, with 60,000 spectators at San Siro and millions more watching on television.
Italian actors Sabrina Impacciatore, who appeared in the second season of HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’, and Matilde De Angelis, who starred in the Netflix series ‘The Law According to Lydia Poet’, will also take part in the proceedings.
The closing ceremony, set for February 22 in Verona, will feature internationally acclaimed ballet star Roberto Bolle.