The Olympic Winter Games in Milan kicked off with a stunning slate of performances.

The performance in Milan looked squarely at the past, both in substance and in style.

Here is a selection of images from the opening ceremony: Italian ballet dancers Antonella Albano and Claudio Coviello perform during the opening ceremony. Colorful dancers perform under large tubes of paint suspended above them during the opening ceremony.

Commentators Mary Carillo and Terry Gannon hosted the NBC broadcast of the ceremony, which features a traditional performance by the host country of every Olympic Games. See the artists who used music to unite the viewers across the world before athletes compete across sports from skiing to ice hockey, vying for gold.

Three giant-headed figures danced at the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Here's who they represented. (AP photo)

When and where can you watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony at Milan Cortina?

Marco Balich has helped design grand spectacles at more than half a dozen Olympics. On Friday, he’ll do it again, on home turf in Italy.

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance were spotted at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night in Milan, Italy.

A new photography exhibition in Milan offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. “REHEARSAL — Before the Applause,” presented by

CEO Scott Boatwright doubles down on high-income diners to protect margins amid flat sales and a 31% stock slide. Former Seahawks RB and Super Bowl champion Robert Turbin joins the show to break down Seattle's dominant Super Bowl LX performance.