Mariah Carey will bring her voice to one of the world’s most-watched stages: the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This Monday, December 15th, it was announced that the 56-year-old singer will be the first major star confirmed to perform at the official start of the sporting event, scheduled for February 6th at the San Siro stadium in Milan, one of the emblematic venues of the Milano Cortina 2026 event.
The news was shared by the artist herself through a video on Instagram, where she appears in a red dress and a diamond necklace, in a staging as careful as it is in line with her image.
“Hello. Get ready for Milano Cortina 2026. See you at the San Siro Stadium on February 6th for the Olympic opening ceremony. Ci vediamo a Milano. See you in Milan,” she said.
Mariah Carey’s participation comes at an especially active moment in her career. In September she released Here for It All, her sixteenth studio album and the first in eight years, marking her return to recording with new material after a long period focused on select projects.
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More recently, in November and December, she offered ten dates of her residency Christmastime at the Dolby Live venue in Las Vegas, a show that reaffirmed her status as a key figure in live entertainment.
After concluding that series of concerts, Carey thanked the audience and the team that made the project possible. “Thank you to everyone who made Christmas in Las Vegas possible. I enjoyed it so much!” she wrote on Instagram on Sunday, December 14th.
In a statement released by NBC, the local organizing committee of the Games explained the reasons behind the choice of Mariah Carey. According to the organization, the singer “fully represents the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the countdown to the Games.”
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The statement underscores the central role that music will have in the event’s narrative. “Music is a universal language that attracts different stories and sensibilities, and it intertwines with the theme of the opening ceremony, harmony,” noted the committee.
The opening ceremony will be creatively directed by Marco Balich, recognized for his work in major international shows.
According to an official statement, the concept of “harmony” will serve as the central theme to showcase “the Italian spirit, innovation, and emotion,” with performances by world-class artists.
The closing of the Games, meanwhile, will have a different but equally symbolic stamp. Star dancer Roberto Bolle will lead the closing ceremony, which will be held on February 22 in the Roman arena of Verona, reinforcing the link between sport, performing arts and Italian cultural identity.
It should be noted that this is not the first time the Olympic Games have turned to music figures to start or close the competition.
Lady Gaga & Céline Dion participated in the opening ceremony in Paris, before the 2024 Summer Olympics, consolidating a tradition in which the musical spectacle accompanies the most solemn and media-covered moments of the Olympics.
