Milan and Cortina set for 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony themed 'Harmony'

MILAN — Italy is finalizing preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are set to take place across Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. While preliminary competitions begin Feb. 4, the official opening ceremony will be held Feb. 6 at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.

This marks the third time Italy has hosted the Winter Games. The upcoming event will feature 116 medal events across 16 different sports.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony, which is centered on the theme of "Harmony." Organizers said the theme represents the connection between the various competition venues spread across the region.

In an Olympic first, two separate cauldrons will be lit during the Games—one in Milan and the other in Cortina. The event's medals feature a new design inspired by Italian avant-garde art.

Organizers have introduced two ermines named Tina and Milo as the official mascots, representing the two host cities.

Competitions are divided into four main geographic clusters. Milan will host ice hockey and skating, while Valtellina serves as the site for freestyle skiing. Cortina will hold biathlon and skating events, and Val di Fiemme is set to host cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

MILAN — The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to cement a pivot in the International Olympic Committee’s hosting strategy, moving away from the "mega-city" infrastructure model toward a decentralized, geographically dispersed architecture.

Rather than concentrating investment into a single urban hub, the Milano Cortina Games will leverage existing infrastructure across Northern Italy. This shift reflects a growing emphasis on fiscal sustainability and environmental stewardship within the Olympic movement. By utilizing a regional network of venues, organizers aim to mitigate the debt traps and "white elephant" projects that have plagued previous host cities.

However, this logistical pragmatism introduces significant operational friction. Spanning hundreds of miles, the decentralized model risks diluting the unified "Olympic atmosphere" traditionally found in a host city. To counter this, Italian organizers have introduced the theme of "Harmony"—a strategic attempt to bridge the physical distance between athletes and spectators through a shared cultural narrative.

Beyond the logistics, the 2026 Games serve as a high-stakes platform for the projection of Italian soft power. Rome is treating the event as a masterclass in national branding, integrating the country’s industrial and artistic heritage into every facet of the Games. From the medals, produced by the State Mint and Polygraphic Institute, to an opening ceremony that doubles as a tribute to Italy’s dominance in fashion and history—including a high-profile homage to Giorgio Armani—the event is designed to bolster "Brand Italy" on the global stage.

The emotional centerpiece of this branding effort remains the opening ceremony at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium. By selecting this historic venue, organizers are framing the Games as a bridge between Italy’s storied sporting past and its future. As the legendary stadium faces potential demolition, the ceremony serves as a grand valedictory, transforming a quadrennial sporting event into a profound cultural statement on heritage and transition.

While the event does not directly affect business concerns or immigration issues like EB-5 or F2B visas, it remains a notable moment for the community. Like any Olympics, it is a time for families and small business owners—from the nail salon industry to the phở restaurants of Little Saigon—to gather and follow the global competition. It offers a unique chance to watch winter sports that fall outside the traditional Vietnamese athletic experience.