The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

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The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics didn’t shy away from spectacle, launching with a typically over-the-top opening ceremony. It was a wildly creative show featuring everything from playful bobbleheads of famous Italian composers and a ’90s-themed DJ set on ice, to enormous golden rings reminiscent of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game. Actress Sabrina Impacciatore led a segment that began with a somewhat awkward, computer-generated animation, but finished with a surprisingly energetic and comical performance. It was a truly diverse and memorable display, encompassing a wide range of emotions and entertainment.

The opening ceremony didn’t quite live up to the serious mood director Marco Balich had promised. It tried to balance celebrating global unity with acknowledging the difficult issues happening around the world, which led to some awkward moments – like a dance performance paired with a message against war. Ultimately, the spectacle couldn’t hide everything. When U.S. Vice President JD Vance appeared on screen, spectators in the stadium clearly booed him, even after being warned not to. It’s unlikely NBC’s broadcast will include that detail, so we’re documenting it, along with the other notable moments from the ceremony’s live presentation. — Nicholas Quah

Okay, I have to say, the opening ceremony really nailed it for me! They totally prioritized art and culture, and it was amazing. Forget snowboarding – give me paint falling from the ceiling any day! Seriously, a poetry reading felt way more epic than curling, and a contemporary dance battle was a hundred times more exciting than a hockey fight. The whole first part was a celebration of Italy’s art and culture, and it was just…beautiful. No athletes in sight, and honestly, I didn’t miss them for a second! Rebecca Alter totally gets it.

Okay, this is…unexpected. Italy is including paparazzi in its celebration of national arts, alongside painting, classical music, and even disco! It’s strange, sure, but also kinda brilliant. After all, the word itself – “paparazzi” – comes from Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, thanks to the character Paparazzo. It’s a bold move, suggesting celebrity photography isn’t just a byproduct of fame, but actually part of how it’s created. A little pretentious? Maybe. But honestly, I think TMZ would be thrilled to get some cultural recognition. It’s a head-scratcher, but I’m strangely into it.

Mariah Carey seemed to have low energy during her performance, likely still recovering from her own recent event. She mostly just stood on stage throughout the entire performance. — RA

Mariah Carey’s incredibly high whistle note was a highlight. As one critic put it, she gave the audience exactly what they expected – a powerful, show-stopping vocal performance reminiscent of an opera singer breaking glass with her voice. — RA

Okay, so Mariah Carey’s performance was…a little slow, honestly. But you know what saved it? Her backup dancers! They were still back there, swaying around – and there were even a bunch of people in Pinocchio costumes! They definitely kept things from getting too boring, which I appreciated.

Okay, so hear me out – poetry readings being sexy is a trope, right? But this… this was different. Seriously, watching Pierfrancesco Favino – that guy is incredible – recite Leopardi’s “L’infinito” in this really low, rough voice? And he was wearing the most amazing coat, just walking through dancers doing this weird, cool Matrix-y move? It was unexpectedly… captivating. Honestly, a total moment. It just worked. Hot, hot, hot is putting it mildly.

Shaun White’s commentary at the Olympics was surprisingly dull. While his athletic achievements certainly qualify him for the role, he spent most of his time talking about his own travels and experiences in the countries featured in the Parade of Athletes – Argentina, Austria, South Korea, China, Finland, Germany, and South Africa – even mentioning his mother’s current vacation in the Philippines. Instead of offering insightful commentary about the athletes and their cultures, he kept bringing the focus back to himself. He even seemed to endorse Saudi Arabia’s efforts to improve its image through sports investment, excitedly noting their construction of a ski resort. Ultimately, a personal travel blog would have been more engaging than his self-centered observations, and frankly, even preferable to his seeming endorsement of ‘sportswashing.’

The women carrying the illuminated country signs were a surprisingly captivating part of the opening ceremony. While the athletes were meant to be the focus, many viewers found themselves watching them instead. They were like glamorous, futuristic figures – a bit reminiscent of Lisa Rinna, a shiny Jabba the Hutt, or even the colorful Hungry Hungry Caterpillar. It was a truly memorable and visually striking moment. — NQ

The Olympics aims for a cheerful atmosphere, but real-life difficulties sometimes break through. This was especially true during a recent broadcast when the team had to address a personal tragedy. Savannah Guthrie unexpectedly had to leave the broadcast team because her mother had gone missing and was feared kidnapped. Mary Carillo acknowledged the situation, saying Guthrie and her family were experiencing immense pain and that she was greatly missed.

Throughout the broadcast, unsettling reminders of global conflicts kept popping up, disrupting the celebratory atmosphere. When Hong Kong’s team appeared, commentators immediately specified it was “Hong Kong, China.” The arrival of Israel’s contingent was quickly followed by a mention of the 1972 Munich Massacre and increased security due to the situation in Gaza. Before Team USA, Venezuela’s appearance prompted a brief reference to the capture of its former president, accompanied by a quick shot of JD Vance. These moments were acknowledged but quickly moved past, highlighting the limits of how much positive spin could cover up underlying tensions.

The best part of the opening ceremony was the energetic, dance-party atmosphere. While the ceremony is always a celebration of athletes and international competition, this year’s production went above and beyond, throwing it back to the early 2000s. The massive golden ring the athletes walked through resembled something from Sonic the Hedgehog, and DJ Mace’s music created a fun, rave-like vibe. Several countries, including Brazil, Germany, and Iceland, showed off their moves with impressive dancing. It was a performance even characters from Game of Thrones would appreciate!

Oh dear. It seems we haven’t learned our lesson about AI-generated ads. This new animation features Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore (known for The White Lotus), but she barely looks like herself – more like a strange mix of other celebrities, all blended into a generic image. It’s as if the AI was asked to create a version of her from an old magazine photoshoot. The Olympics are meant to celebrate human achievement, but this animation completely missed the mark. It just wasn’t good. —RH

Despite a disastrous opening, Impacciatore’s performance quickly turned around and was surprisingly enjoyable. She performed a full clown routine while wearing a very tight Power Rangers costume, being playfully bothered by representations of winter sports from throughout history. The performance was energetic and fun, with a distinctly Italian vibe, and Impacciatore clearly loved being on stage. There was even a moment for her to dance solo in the middle of the large stage. It initially felt like it might be ‘so bad it’s good,’ but her dedication to the bizarre and increasingly outlandish performance ultimately made it genuinely good. — NQ

Did anyone know Charlize Theron was involved in the Olympics opening ceremony? Apparently, the actress is a UN Global Peace Ambassador, which explained her appearance and a quote from Nelson Mandela about the importance of peace. Her moment followed yet another large-scale, choreographed dance performance – the evening’s fifth – with performers in futuristic suits moving to a spoken-word piece about the downsides of war. —RA

The ceremony had some bright spots in its final hour – Charlize Theron’s unexpected appearance, rapper Ghali’s quirky performance with dancers forming a dove, and of course, Andrea Bocelli, who looked incredibly stylish. Many people probably commented on how handsome he was! However, the show felt very long. Speeches by officials like Giovanni Malagò repeated the same themes of “unity” for too long, and there was simply too much dance. While the lighting of the cauldron went well, the ceremony could have been 45 minutes shorter. The televised broadcast will likely be edited to remove some of the less engaging parts. –RH

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2026-02-07 03:56