The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony took viewers on a wild ride through Italian culture and opera history, leaving many scratching their heads. The event's creative lead and executive producer, Marco Balich, had warned that it would be low-key, with no "hi-tech" frills, but nothing could have prepared audiences for the whirlwind spectacle that followed.
The show began with a dash of Roman mythology, 18th-century opera, and even a nod to fashion icon Giorgio Armani. But before long, pop star Mariah Carey was belting out her hit song "Volare" in Italian, bringing an unexpected touch of disco flair to the proceedings. Her performance was short-lived, however, as she segued into her new single "Nothing Is Impossible," showcasing her impressive vocal range.
The live performances were interspersed with a parade of athletes from around the world and a dance history of the Olympic Games, which featured iconic tracks like Adriano Celentano's "Prisencolinensinainciusol." Classical music fans were in for a treat, as Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang took to the stage to perform beloved opera pieces.
However, not all acts fared so well. Italian rapper Ghali made a brief appearance, but his subdued performance left many wondering if this was truly representative of his talents. As the giant-headed effigies of opera composers danced to upbeat pop music, one couldn't help but wonder what the future held for such an unconventional event.
While some viewers may find themselves bewildered by the sheer diversity of styles and references on display, the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony proved to be a truly unforgettable experience. And who knows? Maybe next time around, Kid Rock will bring his signature blend of country and rock to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
The show began with a dash of Roman mythology, 18th-century opera, and even a nod to fashion icon Giorgio Armani. But before long, pop star Mariah Carey was belting out her hit song "Volare" in Italian, bringing an unexpected touch of disco flair to the proceedings. Her performance was short-lived, however, as she segued into her new single "Nothing Is Impossible," showcasing her impressive vocal range.
The live performances were interspersed with a parade of athletes from around the world and a dance history of the Olympic Games, which featured iconic tracks like Adriano Celentano's "Prisencolinensinainciusol." Classical music fans were in for a treat, as Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang took to the stage to perform beloved opera pieces.
However, not all acts fared so well. Italian rapper Ghali made a brief appearance, but his subdued performance left many wondering if this was truly representative of his talents. As the giant-headed effigies of opera composers danced to upbeat pop music, one couldn't help but wonder what the future held for such an unconventional event.
While some viewers may find themselves bewildered by the sheer diversity of styles and references on display, the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony proved to be a truly unforgettable experience. And who knows? Maybe next time around, Kid Rock will bring his signature blend of country and rock to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
i mean what can u expect from italy's most iconic designer marco balich?! but mariah carey just took over the stage with that disco hit "volare" and italian music lovers were LIVING 
meanwhile italian rapper ghali was like... umm where did he go? 
anyhoo, totes love how they mixed it up with adriano celentano's sick tracks and lang lang's piano skills 
. I mean, the rest of the ceremony was fire 
, but his bit just didn't feel like him at all. And can we talk about how random it was to have Mariah Carey pop up? 
The event was already weird enough with all the opera and classical music, but then you throw in some pop star and a country rocker? It was just confusing.
It felt like a commercial break or something. The dance history segment was actually kinda cool, though - I loved that bit.
. It's like they took every Italian cultural reference and opera history lesson and just threw it all into a big ol' pot of weirdness 
. But you know what? I kinda loved it? I mean, who needs consistency when you can have a little bit of everything, right? 
It was like the event's creative lead, Marco Balich, took every criticism and said "forget it" 
. And let's be real, Kid Rock bringing his country-rock vibes to the LA Olympics in 2028? That's gonna be a wild ride 
. Bring on the weirdness! 
I mean, I love a good spectacle, but I wasn't sure if it was all going to come together. And Ghali's rap performance... well, I'm still not convinced he's the right fit 
. The whole production felt like a rollercoaster of emotions - one minute it's high-energy, next minute you're stuck with some obscure opera piece 
. Give me a break! Can we just stick to something simple for once?
mariah carey slaying with "Volare" and then switching to her new single, wow! and can we talk about the parade of athletes it was like a dream come true seeing all those amazing athletes from around the world! 
but omg what happened with ghali? 
!
I'm still trying to process what just happened! 
. But what's up with Ghali's performance tho? 
Still can't get over the giant-headed opera composers dancing to pop music 
. That ceremony was definitely a wild ride, but you know what? I'm all for it 
.
He has some cool tracks on Spotify, but maybe not the right ones for an Olympic opening ceremony? 
those italian opera composers must be thrilled to have their lives referenced in a giant-headed dance troupe I mean, who thought it was a good idea to mash up adriano celentano with pop music? at least the parade of athletes was lit though 
️ "Variety is the spice of life," and that's exactly what this Winter Olympics opening ceremony delivered – a wild, unconventional ride through Italian culture, opera history, pop, disco, classical music... what's next? 
But Ghali's rap performance felt a bit out of place. Maybe he just wasn't feeling it that night or maybe it was just the vibe of the ceremony... idk 
. They threw it back to opera history and Roman mythology like it was nobody's business, and those live performances were 
. The Olympics are all about celebrating diversity and creativity, right? So even if it didn't quite hit the mark for everyone, it was still a memorable night 
. And who cares if Kid Rock is going to rock out at the LA Olympics in 2028? Bring. It. On. 
.