Kazakhstan has officially joined the celebration at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, as athletes from around the world gathered across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and other host cities in northern Italy for the start of the global sporting event.

The spectacular opening ceremony took place on February 6 at 8:00 p.m. (GMT+1) at Milan’s legendary San Siro Stadium, marking midnight on February 7 in Kazakhstan, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

In keeping with the Olympic Charter, the ceremony blended culture, sport and symbolism, featuring an artistic showcase, the traditional parade of athletes, and the lighting of the Olympic flame.

This year’s show centers on the theme “Harmony”, reflecting the spiritual closeness of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo despite the physical distance between them - and, more broadly, the unity of the world while celebrating the uniqueness of every individual.

Spectators were taken on a creative journey through Italian music, sculpture, painting and fashion, highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage. The program also featured a standout performance by American singer Mariah Carey, who surprised audiences by singing in Italian. A modern choreography piece set the stage for the dramatic appearance of the Olympic rings inside the stadium.

With two official host cities and multiple venues involved, Milano Cortina 2026 is making Olympic history - and the opening ceremony reflected that innovation. For the first time, the Parade of Nations was held simultaneously across all host locations.

Kazakhstan’s team entered the parade as the 44th delegation, with the order determined alphabetically by country names in Italian. At San Siro, the national flag of Kazakhstan was carried by Denis Nikisha, a two-time world vice-champion in short-track speed skating, alongside athletes competing in Milan-based events.

Meanwhile, in Livigno, the Kazakh delegation was led by Ayaulym Amrenova, a Universiade silver medalist in freestyle moguls, joined by athletes competing in freestyle skiing. In Cortina d’Ampezzo and Predazzo, Kazakh cross-country skiers, biathletes, alpine skiers, ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes also took part in the parade.

Both Amrenova and Nikisha were officially chosen as Kazakhstan’s flag bearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Following the parade - which featured athletes from 92 countries - the vibrant opening show continued, building anticipation for the weeks of competition ahead. The Games are set to be officially declared open by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Milano Cortina 2026 also marks a historic milestone as the first Winter Olympic Games - and the first Olympic opening ceremony - held under the presidency of Kirsty Coventry at the International Olympic Committee. Adding to the star power, Laura Pausini and Andrea Bocelli are also scheduled to perform during the ceremony.