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2026 Winter Olympic Games kicks off with fireworks, star performances and more

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Thomas Gamba-Ellis
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Feb 6, 2026

The 2026 Winter Olympic ceremonies took place on Friday, and now the games are officially underway in Milan.

Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli were among some of the performers for the ceremonies, with Carey stunning the crowd by singing in full Italian.

Team USA was met with a roaring applause from the crowd, with the country featuring 232 athletes, the most in Winter Olympics history.

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Final torchbearer Italian skier Sofia Goggia holds the torch of the Olympic flame to light the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games
A general view of fireworks as the Olympic flame is visible in the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games next to the Arco della Pace monument in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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Italy's President Sergio Mattarella declares the Games open during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella declares the Games open during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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Entertainers perform during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
Entertainers perform during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. AP

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Singer Mariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony
Singer Mariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony. REUTERS

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Team United States enters the stadium during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
Team United States enters the stadium during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. AP

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Vittoria Ceretti, flagbearer for Milano, hands the Italian flag to the Corazzieri during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Vittoria Ceretti, flagbearer for Milano, hands the Italian flag to the Corazzieri during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images

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dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli performs during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli performs during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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Final torchbearer Italian skier Sofia Goggia holds the torch of the Olympic flame to light the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games
Final torchbearer Italian skier Sofia Goggia holds the torch of the Olympic flame to light the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Getty Images

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President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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US second lady Usha Vance and US Vice President JD Vance attend the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
US second lady Usha Vance and US Vice President JD Vance attend the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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Actors dressed as a symbol of Italian literature perform during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Actors dressed as a symbol of Italian literature perform during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images

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US singer Mariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026.
US singer Mariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on February 6, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

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Flagbearer Frankie del Duca of Team United States enters with the team into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Piazza Dibona on February 06, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Flagbearer Frankie del Duca of Team United States enters with the team into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Piazza Dibona on February 06, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Getty Images

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Flagbearer Erin Jackson of United States leads their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony.
Flagbearer Erin Jackson of United States leads their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony. REUTERS

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