The Milano Cortina 2026 officially get underway today with an opening ceremony unlike any in Winter Games history. Instead of a single venue, the spectacle unfolds across several Italian locations at once, with the main event staged at Milan’s San Siro stadium and parallel ceremonies taking place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo. Cameras will move between venues as athletes parade, underscoring the scale and geographic spread of the Games.
The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. local time, which is 11 a.m. PT and 2 p.m. ET. Canadian viewers can watch live coverage through CBC, with a pre ceremony show starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBC platforms. Live coverage of the opening ceremony follows at 2 p.m. ET, available on CBC, Sportsnet, TSN and via the CBC Gem streaming service on mobile devices, smart TVs and Fire TV.
Canada’s flag bearers reflect both experience and excellence. Ski cross racer Marielle Thompson and moguls star Mikaël Kingsbury will carry the Maple Leaf during the parade of nations. Both athletes are competing in their fourth Olympic Games and are among Canada’s most decorated winter sport competitors.
A defining feature of Milano Cortina 2026 is the use of two Olympic cauldrons. One will be lit at Milan’s historic Arco della Pace, while the other will burn in Cortina’s Piazza Dibona. Organizers say the dual cauldron concept reflects the shared hosting model and the cultural link between urban Milan and the Alpine heart of Cortina. The identity of the final torch lighter remains secret, continuing one of the most closely guarded traditions of the Olympic movement.
The journey of the Olympic flame itself has been extensive. Lit in Olympia, Greece, in November 2025, the flame traveled across Greece before touring all of Italy’s provinces. An estimated 10,000 torchbearers carried it more than 12,000 kilometres, from coastal cities to high mountain towns. Along the way, Italian sports icons and cultural figures took part, setting the stage for a ceremony designed to blend history, innovation and national pride as the Winter Games officially begin.
