In the rehearsal tent: Here’s what makes the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony special

Inside a spacious tent near Milan’s San Siro stadium, classically trained dancers from La Scala’s academy were seen mimicking winter sports movements during a Saturday rehearsal for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

These young performers represent just a fraction of the 1,200 volunteers who have been diligently preparing since November. Their rehearsals took place in a tent large enough to replicate the actual stadium stage, while Italian Serie A completed its final matches before the iconic venue transitions into an Olympic arena for the February 6 ceremony.

“The preparation of the Olympic ceremony is a very complicated journey but also an exhilarating one, because you get to meet all these volunteers, dance classes, normal people,” explained Marco Balich, the opening ceremony’s creative director, during an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

The volunteer roster includes people from all walks of life – Balich’s butcher, his office manager, and even an 88-year-old widow. “All of them join in to create something for the nation, for the joy of being part of a huge event like the Olympics,” said Balich, who brings considerable experience as the producer of a record 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, including the 2006 Turin opening.

As the ceremony date approaches, rehearsals will intensify to approximately nine hours daily. The event is expected to draw 60,000 in-person attendees, including a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, while global viewership will reach millions.

“Harmony” serves as this year’s theme – a particularly resonant message amid global conflicts affecting populations from Ukraine to Gaza to Iran. The concept of an Olympic Truce, with roots in ancient Greece and revived by Olympic officials in the 1990s, takes on special significance this year. The truce traditionally calls for cessation of hostilities for one week before the Olympics through one week after the Paralympics, which conclude March 15.

“In this moment, where forces and bullies are predominant, I think it’s very important for all of us to embrace the values that the Olympics represents, which is to compete respectfully and peacefully between all countries and nations, summarized in the title ‘Harmony,'” Balich emphasized.

The ceremony will showcase Italian excellence and creativity, including nods to Milan’s status as a global fashion capital. While many elements remain secret to preserve the surprise factor, some high-profile participants have been announced. Musical performances will feature American pop star Mariah Carey, renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian singer Laura Pausini, and concert pianist Lang Lang.

The 2026 Winter Olympics introduces an unprecedented dual-cauldron concept, drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies. One cauldron will stand at Milan’s Arco della Pace, approximately four kilometers from San Siro, while the second will be positioned in Cortina, some 400 kilometers away – reflecting the most geographically dispersed Games in Olympic history.

Maria Laura Iascone, director of ceremonies, promised “Olympic magic” to connect these distant locations. To ensure athletes at far-flung venues near the Swiss and Austrian borders can participate, the Parade of Athletes will incorporate live feeds from three additional locations, including Cortina.

“This event will bring a lot of this magic and images. We keep a balance between the protocol moments that will be, let’s say, serious, very precise, and also moments where emotion will be brought through the participation of key roles and people,” Iascone said.

The rehearsal facility houses not only the stage mock-up but also an extensive wardrobe department containing 1,400 costumes in broadcast-friendly vibrant colors, with tailors making final adjustments on site. A welcoming sign greets performers: “Your Happy Moment Starts Now! Welcome!”

For volunteer Fostis Siadimas, the experience brings his Olympic journey full circle. Having participated in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics opening ceremony as a 20-year-old in his native Greece, the amateur dancer now living in Milan eagerly answered the casting call for Milan-Cortina.

“The last few moments before entering the stadium, it’s an experience, one of the best of my life, ever,” Siadimas reflected, capturing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity these volunteers are embracing as they prepare to welcome the world to Italy’s winter celebration.