Global music icon Mariah Carey has been announced as a major performer at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled to hold in Milan, Italy, in February.
The five-time Grammy Award winner shared the news on her Instagram page, posting “Ci vediamo a Milano” (See you in Milan), confirming her participation in the highly anticipated global event.
Mariah Carey becomes the first international star officially unveiled for the Games. Organisers expect the opening ceremony to host about 60,000 spectators, with millions more watching worldwide.
Explaining the choice, the Olympic organising committee said Mariah Carey embodies the emotional spirit surrounding the Games, noting that music serves as a universal language that aligns with the ceremony’s theme of harmony.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be staged across northern Italy, with opening events taking place in the mountainous regions of Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno. The opening ceremony is scheduled for February 6, 2026.
The Olympic flame will burn simultaneously at two locations: the Arco della Pace in central Milan and Piazza Dibona in Cortina. The closing ceremony will hold on February 22 in Verona’s ancient Roman Arena, headlined by renowned ballet star Roberto Bolle.
Now 56, Mariah Carey boasts 19 number-one hits and previously performed the U.S. national anthem at the 2002 Super Bowl, though she has never appeared at the halftime show.
