The lineup for the Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony, which has the theme of “Harmony,” includes superstars from the United States, Italy and China.
WASHINGTON — The Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics will feature plenty of talented performers — including one of the United States’ most famous pop stars.
The Opening Ceremony takes place Feb. 6 at the San Siro Olympic Stadium. Live coverage begins at 2 p.m. Eastern on NBC. The theme of this year’s Opening Ceremony is “Harmony,” creating a symbolic space where “communities come together and transcend boundaries,” according to the Olympics.
About 60,000 people are expected to attend the Opening Ceremony, including a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance. Millions of viewers worldwide will be watching on television.
Performers who have been announced include pop star Mariah Carey, tenor Andrea Bocelli, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian singer Laura Pausini and concert pianist Lang Lang.
Mariah Carey
The U.S.-born pop star was the first major international performer announced for the Opening Ceremony.
Carey has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide since her debut in 1990 and has won five Grammys. She sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2002 Super Bowl and at the NBA All-Star game the following year. She also debuted her song “Save the Day” ahead of the U.S. Open Women’s final in 2020.
This will be her first time performing at the Olympics.
At the Paris Games in 2024, two North American pop stars performed: Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
Laura Pausini
The Italian singer has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide since winning at the Sanremo Music Festival in 1993. She’s the first Italian woman to win a Grammy, and has also won four Latin Grammys, six World Music Awards and a Golden Globe. She was nominated for an Oscar for her song “lo Si” from “The Life Ahead.”
Andrea Bocelli
The Italian tenor is making a return to the Olympics after he sang at the Closing Ceremony at the Turin Games in 2006. Bocelli has sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and has five Grammy nominations. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
Cecilia Bartoli
Bartoli is an Italian mezzo-soprano who has won five Grammys and many other awards. She was appointed director of the Opera de Monte-Carlo in 2003, becoming the first woman to hold that position.
Lang Lang
The Grammy-nominated pianist from China is “credited for ushering classical music back into the 21st century,” according to the Olympics. His 2004 debut album “Live at Carnegie Hall” reached No. 9 on Billboard’s classical albums chart. In 2009, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He previously performed at Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Games.
Ghali
Ghali is an Italian-Tunisian rapper who combines Milanese slang, French and Arabic. He’s collaborated with international star including Ed Sheeran, Måneskin and Stormzy. His single “Ninna Nanna” has more than 133 million views on YouTube. In 2018, his hit “Cara Italia” debuted No. 1 in Italy.