Athletes eagerly await the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan. You can watch live coverage on Friday, Feb. 6 on KING 5.
MILAN, Metropolitan City of Milan — At the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, Milan will be the main venue for the Opening Ceremony. But, with the Olympic Games’ events spread across various cities, mini ceremonies will take place at other competition venues.
In August 2024, crowds in Paris crammed along the Seine’s banks and bridges, or watched from balconies as Olympic teams paraded in boats down the waterway on a rainy night in the City of Light.
The Opening Ceremony, which marks the official commencement of the Olympic Games, brings the world together.
For US Speed skater Corinne Stoddard from Federal Way, this will be her second chance getting to take part in the Opening Ceremony.
“It’s really cool,” she said. “I participated in Beijing, but we did race the next day. That was a little bit stressful. … I was like, I really want to do this because this is my first Olympics. But this year in Milan, we don’t race the day after the Opening Ceremony, so that’ll be really nice to just be able to enjoy the opening ceremonies and take everything in this time.”
In 2018, Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen represented Finland in the Olympics. He said the Opening Ceremony is an unforgettable night, but he agrees with Stoddard, it is a long day for the athletes.
“Behind the scenes, you wait for a couple hours in the cold,” he said. “It’s not as glamorous as it looks like, but it’s a cool experience.”
Former Husky runner Anna Gibson is now a member of the US ski team. She said she can’t wait for her first Olympics.
“I’ve always loved watching the Opening and Closing ceremonies, and just getting to see all the athletes from all the sports together, and all the nations,” she said. “I have no idea what that’s even gonna feel like, but I cannot wait to wear the Ralph Lauren outfit and just walk and experience the whole thing.”
US curlers Luc Violette from Lake Stevens and Issaquah’s Ben Richardson will also be competing in their first Olympic Games. The curling events will take place in Cortina, so they will be there for the Opening Ceremony.
“It’s going to be very special,” Violette said. “We’re really looking forward to it, and it’s going to be a very unique, but awesome Olympic experience for us.”
How to watch the Opening Ceremony
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony takes place Friday, Feb. 6. at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.
Live coverage of the Opening Ceremony begins at 11 a.m. PST, with primetime coverage beginning at 8 p.m. PST on KING 5.
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