The Winter Olympics are back, and the festivities kicked off on Friday with a star-studded opening ceremony featuring Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey.
The main ceremony was held at the famous San Siro stadium in Milan, but there were accompanying events in other cities as well, because these are the most widely distributed Olympic Games in history.
The opening ceremony always serves as a grand display of the host country's cultural heritage and a symbolic moment for athletes from around the world participating in the Parade of Nations.
It ended with the final handover of the Olympic torch and the lighting of the cauldron, or in this year's case, the cauldrons.
For the first time in history, two cauldrons were lit to represent the two host cities: one in Milan and the other in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Albania participated in the opening ceremony of the “Milano-Cortina 2026” Winter Olympic Games and the red and black flag was waved during the parade of delegations. Albania is represented by four skiers: Lara Colturi, Denni Xhepa, Lisa Brunga and Semire Dauti.
Fireworks light up the sky over the Arco della Pace after the Olympic cauldron was lit in Milan at the end of the opening ceremony.
Italian skier Sofia Goggia lights the Olympic cauldron in Cortina d'Ampezzo. This is the first time in history that there have been two Olympic cauldrons.
The Olympic flag is held at the San Siro stadium near the end of the ceremony.
A ballerina performs during the opening ceremony in Milan.
Actress Charlize Theron conveys a message of peace, drawing on the words of former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti shows the solar system to a girl performing at the opening ceremony. The main ceremony took place at the San Siro stadium in Milan.
Fireworks explode around the Olympic rings.
Iconic Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, sings "Nessun dorma" at the ceremony.
Giovanni Malagò, who heads the organizing committee for this year's Olympic Games, welcomes the world to the Games.
Athletes from different countries attend the ceremony together in Milan.
Italian rapper Ghali performs with dancers.
Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore, center, performs in a musical number honoring the history of the Winter Olympics.
The beginning of Sabrina Impaccatore's performance paid homage to the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924.
The impacciatore rises into the air during the musical number, which had themes for different eras.
Speed ??skater Erin Jackson waves the American flag as she leads the American contingent during the traditional Parade of Nations.
Chinese athletes enter the San Siro stadium.
Athletes from Poland enjoy the moment as they participate in the Parade of Nations.
US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, attend the opening ceremony in Milan.
Athletes from Saudi Arabia walk in Livigno during the Parade of Nations.
Australian athletes participate in the Parade of Nations from Predazzo.
Haitian flag bearer Stevenson Savart takes part in the Parade of Nations in Predazzo. He is one of two Haitians competing in these Olympic Games.
Belgian athletes arrive together in Milan during the Parade of Nations.
Fireworks explode from the Olympic rings after they were dramatically formed over the stage in Milan.
Performers wear the colors of the Italian flag during the opening ceremony.
Dancers from Milan's La Scala opera house perform at the start of the ceremony in Milan.
Britain's Princess Anne was among the dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony in Milan.
The performers hang in the air, high above the stage, with several rings that would help form the Olympic logo.
Performers on stage in Milan.
Canadian fans gather during the opening ceremony at the Livigno Snow Park in Livigno.
Italian singer Laura Pausini performs her country's national anthem.
Model Vittoria Ceretti holds the Italian flag before the national anthem.
Legendary American singer Mariah Carey sings in the first part of the ceremony, mixing the Italian song "Valore" and her song "Nothing Is Impossible".
Tubes of paint are seen above performers during a performance in homage to Italian imagination and creativity.
Cupid (Claudio Coviello) and Psyche (Antonella Albano) perform a tribute to Italian beauty during the opening number.
Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino recites a poem on stage at the San Siro stadium.
Italian actress and singer Matilda De Angelis performs with three actors dressed as the great masters of Italian opera.
