The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics 2026 is on the horizon with a huge evening of entertainment in store.
No Olympic Games is truly started until the opening ceremony – and 2026 is no exception.
While some events at Milano Cortina have already started across Italy, the hype won't fully wash across the world until we've seen the flame lit and the start of the Games formally declared.
Expect all the bells and whistles usually associated with an Olympic opening ceremony, with a spectacular display of Italian culture expected at two locations on the night.
Athletes will perform a parade – don't worry, there's nowhere near as many athletes as the summer Games so it won't take quite as long – and the Olympic cauldron will be lit.
Radio Times brings you the date and timings you need to know for the Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony.
The Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony will take place on Friday 6th February 2026.
The Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony will get under way at around 7pm UK time.
The Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony will be held at the San Siro football stadium in Milan and the ski resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, where many of the events will take place.
The Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony promises to be a grand spectacle and it could last up to three hours.
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Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
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