Fashion spotlight on Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony

Monday 02 February 2026 - 15:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Fashion spotlight on Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony

As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics draw near, teams and organizers have unveiled striking national uniforms and ceremonial outfits that blend cultural heritage with high fashion, fitting for a host in one of the world's style capitals. The opening ceremony, set for February 6 at Milan's San Siro stadium, embraces the theme of "Armonia," or harmony. It will feature over 1,300 performers in 182 original costume designs and more than 1,400 outfits, according to the Milano Cortina Foundation. Creative director Marco Balich envisions it as an orchestration linking Milan's urban elegance to Cortina's alpine splendor, marking the first Winter Games spread across multiple northern Italian venues, including simultaneous events in Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo.

National teams' uniforms have captured global attention. Mongolia's delegation stands out with outfits by Goyol Cashmere, inspired by the traditional deel from the 13th- to 15th-century Mongol Empire. Crafted from Mongolian cashmere with silk ornaments and embroidered horn motifs, the deep blue hue evokes the "Eternal Blue Sky" (Tengri), a potent cultural symbol. The U.S. team continues its decade-long Ralph Lauren partnership, sporting white wool overcoats with vintage wooden toggles and jacquard sweaters bearing the American flag; snowboard champion Red Gerard praised them for balancing team pride with everyday wearability.

Italy's athletes will don creamy white EA7 Emporio Armani uniforms with three-dimensional "Italia" embroidery, designed by Giorgio Armani to mirror snowy peaks in harmonious style. Britain's squad returns with Ben Sherman for a fourth straight Games, featuring hand-knitted scarves and winter beanies co-created with Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, accented by bold GB lettering and twisted patterns. Canada's Lululemon collection has sparked debate by diverging from classic red and white, opting for deeper reds, glacier-inspired blues, and an oversized puffer jacket with an elongated maple leaf.

The three-hour spectacle promises star power, with performances by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and Laura Pausini; Balich noted Carey will sing in Italian. Italian actresses Sabrina Impacciatore of "The White Lotus" fame and Matilde De Angelis will also appear. The event culminates in a historic flourish: two Olympic cauldrons lit simultaneously at Milan's Arco della Pace and Cortina's Piazza Dibona, drawing from Leonardo da Vinci's geometric explorations. Around 60,000 fans are expected at San Siro, with millions more tuning in worldwide.