MILAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The organizers of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Thursday unveiled the concept "Armonia" for the Games' Opening Ceremony, along with the creative vision and first announced performers.
The ceremony, titled Armonia -- meaning "harmony" in Italian -- is set for February 6, 2026, at Milan's San Siro Stadium and is expected to showcase Italian beauty, creativity and identity through a visual and emotional journey blending art and innovation, nature and the city, and tradition and the future.
According to the organizers, Armonia will serve as the guiding theme of the show, weaving together imagination and beauty inspired by Leonardo da Vinci and other great inventors, along with Italian design, music and elegance. The event will highlight Italian talent in all its forms, from artists and athletes to young generations shaping the nation's future, organizers said during the presentation.
In keeping with Milan Cortina 2026's innovative multi-centered format, the ceremony will connect Milan, Cortina, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme in a shared celebration. The stage design for San Siro also reflects this vision, linking all territories involved in the Games.
"Armonia is not just a theme. It is our promise to the world. In these Games, the mountains will speak to the cities, and Italy will show its ability to unite, welcome and inspire," said Giovanni Malago, President of the Fondazione Milan Cortina 2026.
During the event, organizers announced Italian actress Matilda De Angelis as one of the ceremony's narrative voices, representing Italy's creative dialogue with the world. Marco Balich, known for producing several notable Olympic ceremonies, will lead the creative team.
"We have a beautiful Italian team with great experiences in various fields of entertainment and I'm sure we're going to deliver something very meaningful that we speak to the younger generation to involve them in big values as peace and harmony. I'm very confident that the emotional message will arrive and will translate in all the regions of the world," Balich told Xinhua. ■
