It was a night of soaring notes, cultural celebration, and worldwide unity as Mariah Carey, the legendary American pop icon, took center stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, Italy. Held at the iconic San Siro stadium on February 6, 2026, the event marked the official start of the Milano Cortina Games, a spectacle that blended Italian heritage with international stardom, and Carey’s performance was nothing short of show-stopping.
From the moment the stadium lights dimmed and the first notes rang out, it was clear this would be a ceremony to remember. The opening festivities began with a cinematic video depicting Italy as a snow-dusted wonderland, followed by a countdown from 20 that showcased stunning images of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the twin host cities honored this year with two Olympic cauldrons—an Olympic first, as reported by Town & Country. Dancers dressed as angels then filled the stage, paying tribute to the famed Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, before a parade of papier-mâché-headed performers brought Italy’s great composers—Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini—to life in a whimsical celebration of classical music.
But the crescendo of the night belonged to Mariah Carey. As the stadium fell into darkness, a single spotlight found her at the heart of the stage, dazzling in a shimmering white gown with a feathered stole. According to ABC News and Olympics.com, Carey delivered a powerful rendition of the Italian classic “Volare” (officially titled “Nel blu, dipinto di blu”), originally written and performed by Domenico Modugno in 1958. The song, a beloved staple of Italian culture and a global hit covered by the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, resonated deeply with the audience. Hundreds of fans in Cortina, watching from their simultaneous celebration, sang along, and a roar of approval swept through the crowd as Carey hit a sky-high whistle note, her signature vocal flourish.
The choice of “Volare” was more than a nod to Italian tradition; it was a symbol of the ceremony’s theme, “Armonia” (harmony), celebrating unity between nations and between humanity and nature. As the local organizing committee explained in a statement quoted by the Associated Press and reiterated by multiple outlets, “Mariah Carey fully represents the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the run-up to the Games. Music is a universal language that attracts different stories and sensibilities, and intertwines with the opening ceremony’s theme of harmony.”
Carey then transitioned seamlessly into her own anthem, “Nothing Is Impossible,” from her 2025 album Here For It All. The lyrics—“’Cause I dream a greater dream / I fight a greater fight / I overcome it all”—were a fitting tribute to the athletes about to embark on their Olympic journeys. As People Magazine observed, the song’s message of resilience and hope perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the Games. Carey’s performance was met with thunderous applause, her voice and presence lighting up the night sky over Milan.
For Carey, this was not her first brush with the Olympics. As reported by ABC News and Town & Country, her 2010 song “100%” was released to benefit Team USA at the Vancouver Winter Games, and she has previously headlined major sporting events, including singing the national anthem at the 2002 Super Bowl and performing at the 2020 U.S. Open women’s tennis final. Still, the Milan performance was unique—a rare occasion where the American superstar sang entirely in Italian, a language she credits her opera-singer mother for introducing her to at a young age. In her autobiography, Carey recalls singing an aria from Verdi’s Rigoletto in perfect Italian at the age of three, a formative moment in her musical journey.
Despite her fluency in Italian music, Carey’s heritage is not Italian. She is of Irish, African American, and Afro-Venezuelan descent, as she clarified in a conversation with Meghan Markle on the “Archetypes” podcast. “My father’s father’s mother was Venezuelan,” Carey explained, adding that people often struggled to categorize her background. Nevertheless, her connection to Italy is genuine—she has spoken fondly of the country, especially the island of Capri, and her mother’s operatic training has left an indelible mark on her artistry.
The decision to feature Carey as the headline international guest was announced back in December 2025 via Instagram by both the Olympic and Milan Cortina 2026 accounts. The posts declared, “Mariah & Milano, it’s official!” and emphasized that Carey’s career, which spans generations and cultures, beautifully reflects the ceremony’s main theme of harmony. Organizers further noted that her participation “underscores the international breadth of the ceremony and its messages.”
Carey herself greeted fans in an Instagram reel, saying, “Ciao! Get ready for Milano Cortina 2026. See you at the Stadio San Siro on the 6th of February for the Olympic opening ceremony. See you in Milan!”—delivering the final line in Italian, much to the delight of her followers.
The opening ceremony also featured a lineup of Italian stars, including world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, actor Pierfrancesco Favino, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, and Sabrina Impacciatore of The White Lotus fame, as detailed by Town & Country. Yet it was Carey’s performance that stole the show, symbolizing the Olympic spirit of global unity and the power of music to transcend borders.
As the Games commenced, athletes from around the world prepared to compete in 16 winter sports, from alpine skiing and bobsleigh to figure skating and snowboarding. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, running from February 6 to February 22, promised to be a showcase not only of athletic excellence but also of cultural exchange and artistic achievement.
Mariah Carey’s angelic voice, her embrace of Italian music, and her message of perseverance left an indelible mark on the opening ceremony. For one unforgettable night, the world gathered in Milan and Cortina, united by the universal language of song and the timeless pursuit of harmony.