Andrea Bocelli is set to return to the Olympic stage twenty years after his appearance at the Closing Ceremony of the Turin 2006 Olympic Games. The Italian tenor will perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games on 6 February, marking a symbolic milestone in his career and in Italian Olympic history.
The Milano Cortina Organising Committee confirmed Bocelli as one of the headline performers for the ceremony, which will take place at San Siro Stadium in Milan. His participation follows earlier announcements that American singer Mariah Carey and Italian artist Laura Pausini will also perform. Bocelli, who has sold more than 90 million records worldwide, last appeared at an Olympic ceremony when he performed Because We Believe at the Turin 2006 Closing Ceremony.
Organisers highlighted the significance of Bocelli’s return, noting the connection between music and sport that his performance represents. In a statement published after the announcement, Olympics.com described Bocelli as an artist who has combined the traditions of Italian opera with an ability to communicate emotion to global audiences. His inclusion is expected to reinforce Italy’s cultural identity during the opening of the Winter Games.
Bocelli has been a prominent figure in international music since the early 1990s. He achieved global recognition through collaborations with artists including Sarah Brightman on Time to Say Goodbye, Céline Dion on The Prayer, and performances with Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. The Prayer received a Golden Globe award and an Academy Award nomination. In France, his 1997 duet Vivo per lei with Hélène Ségara topped the national charts for five weeks and sold close to one million copies.
Throughout his career, Bocelli has performed at landmark locations such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Statue of Liberty and Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican. In September 2025, he delivered the Grace for the World concert at the Vatican. He has also met the last four Popes, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis and Leo XIV, underlining his longstanding association with the Holy See.
Maestro Andrea Bocelli will perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games! 💫
— Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina26) January 11, 2026
A global icon of Italian music and a voice loved across every continent, Andrea Bocelli will bring an extraordinary and unforgettable touch to the Ceremony on February 6, set… pic.twitter.com/WrMMq1Zsqq
The tenor is a familiar presence at major sporting events. His recent appearances include the Opening Ceremony of the UEFA EURO 2020 football tournament, where he performed Nessun dorma, the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony and the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has also performed at significant national occasions, including the coronation of King Charles III and celebrations marking the seventy fifth anniversary of the Italian Constitution.
The Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony will feature the Parade of Athletes and approximately three hours of entertainment. While the main event will be staged at San Siro Stadium, additional segments will be broadcast from Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo to represent the range of winter sports disciplines. Organisers expect around 60,000 spectators to attend in person, with a global television audience of several million viewers.
The ceremony will also include a tribute to Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away in September. Armani designed Olympic uniforms for Italy and left a lasting cultural legacy in Milan through institutions such as the Armani Theatre, the Armani Silos museum and his support of the EA7 Emporio Armani Milano basketball team.
The Opening Ceremony is being produced by Marco Balich, who has worked on more than a dozen Olympic ceremonies worldwide. Italian actors Sabrina Impacciatore and Matilde De Angelis are also scheduled to take part. The Closing Ceremony will be held on 22 February at the Roman Arena in Verona, where internationally acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle will headline the event.
With Andrea Bocelli returning to the Olympic stage two decades after Turin 2006, the Milano Cortina Winter Games are set to open with a performance that connects Italy’s musical heritage with one of the world’s largest sporting events.
