Harmony: the show design of the Opening Ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

The Opening Ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, held on February 6, 2026, at San Siro Stadium in Milan, represents one of the most ambitious and intricate show design projects in recent Olympic history. Conceived as an immersive experience that connects physical space, symbolic narrative, and stage technology, the ceremony translated the conceptual theme of Harmony into a sophisticated visual ecosystem, where scenography, costumes, choreography, and sound design operate as an integrated whole.

The creative concept, developed under the direction of the Balich Wonder Studio team, with Simone Ferrari as creative director and deputy creative lead, revolves around the idea of balance: between nature and technology, urban and alpine landscapes, and Italian cultural tradition and contemporary languages. The entire ceremony is structured as a sequence of visual chapters, symbolically traversing major themes of Italian identity—art, music, fashion, design, and innovation, reinterpreted through performative spectacle.

Scenography: San Siro as a narrative device

San Siro was completely transformed into a monumental theatrical set. At the heart of the stadium is a large spiral-shaped central stage, which redefines the geometry of the field and acts as the focal point for all stage actions. The spiral, a recurring symbolic motif, represents connection and continuity, a dynamic form suggesting movement, flow, and transformation.

Radial walkways extend from the central spiral, allowing athletes and performers to circulate seamlessly, transforming the traditional parade of nations into a choreographed spatial narrative. Mobile scenic elements, textile surfaces, reflective materials, and kinetic structures modulate the environment throughout the ceremony, creating distinct visual atmospheres for each thematic segment. The scenography functions not as mere background, but as a living architecture that interacts with light, sound, and movement in real time.

Costumes: visual identity and chromatic dramaturgy

Costume design was one of the most distinctive aspects of the ceremony. Over 1,400 original costumes, spanning approximately 182 different concepts, were created specifically for the event. Each costume was conceived as an integral part of the visual dramaturgy, designed to work with choreography, lighting, and digital scenography. Materials ranged from iridescent technical fabrics to natural fibers, with color strategically used as a narrative tool. Silhouettes oscillate between classical references recalling neoclassical sculpture, opera, and Renaissance theater and contemporary solutions inspired by Italian fashion, industrial design, and pop culture. Styling, makeup, and hair design further unify the visual universe, turning the performer’s body into a living element of the scenography.

Choreography and performative space

The choreographic dimension operates as architecture in motion. With over 1,200 performers on stage, choreography is not merely a spectacle, but a spatial design instrument. Bodies trace geometries, construct temporary volumes, and interact with scenic structures, creating a dynamic visual language. Collective movement becomes a metaphor for harmony: multiple individuals, each retaining a distinct identity, functioning as a single organism. Direction alternates large ensemble sequences with intimate moments, producing a visual rhythm that maintains narrative tension.

The “Time-Travel Stage” of Sabrina Impacciatore

One of the most memorable sequences of the ceremony was a “time-traveling” musical performance by Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore. This segment served as a bridge between past, present, and future, visualizing nearly a century of Winter Olympic history through music, costume, and movement.

Impacciatore’s performance began with references to the 1920s and 1940s, progressing through subsequent decades, with each era represented through distinctive costumes and musical styles. The actress donned period-specific ski attire and appeared alongside dancers representing historical Olympic aesthetics. The sequence fused jazz, swing, and iconic Italian songs, creating a narrative that was both culturally specific and universally legible.

Technically, the number integrated seamlessly with the larger stage design: San Siro became a dynamic time machine, with projections on LED surfaces, live dancers, and changing set pieces reinforcing the sense of temporal passage. Impacciatore also appeared in a pre-recorded animated sequence projected on stadium screens, connecting her live performance to a broader historical visual narrative. This segment embodied the ceremony’s overarching theme of harmony across time, demonstrating how design, choreography, and music can create a temporal storytelling device on a massive scale.

Technology and symbolism: the dual Olympic cauldrons

A defining innovation of Milano-Cortina 2026 was the presence of two Olympic cauldrons, one in Milan and one in Cortina. These kinetic, LED-equipped structures transformed the ignition of the Olympic flame into a performative act, appearing almost as characters within the narrative. The cauldrons not only symbolized unity and continuity, but also extended the concept of the stage beyond the stadium, creating a simultaneous performance across multiple locations.

The interaction between performers, projections, and the dual cauldrons produced a layered, immersive effect: the audience experienced San Siro as the central stage, while Cortina became a secondary performance site. This duality reinforced the theme of harmony, blending urban and alpine environments, technology and tradition, into a cohesive visual story.

Music and sound design

The original soundtrack played a structural role, combining symphonic, electronic, pop, and operatic Italian elements. Sound design guided the audience emotionally, highlighting transitions, emphasizing climaxes, and linking individual segments, including Impacciatore’s time-travel number and the dual cauldrons, into a coherent narrative arc. Live performances by international and Italian artists were integrated into the visual flow as dramaturgical elements rather than isolated concert moments.

The Opening Ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics exemplified contemporary show design: a holistic project in which scenography, costume, choreography, lighting, sound, and technology form a single, integrated visual ecosystem.

Credits:

Marco Balich - Creative Lead

Simone Ferrari - Creative Director and Deputy Creative Lead

Damiano Michieletto - Creative Director

Lida Castelli - Protocol Creative Director

Lulu Helbaek - Creative Director

Massimo Cantini Parrini - Costume Designer

Paolo Fantin - Production Designer

Andrea Farri - Music Director

Bruno Poet - Lighting Designer