2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony and Team Uniform Fashion Review - part 1

I watched most of the Opening Ceremony live yesterday afternoon, then I re-watched the whole thing during the prime-time airing at 8pm, and parts again this morning. Not unexpectedly for Italy, there was a focus on music and fashion, and not unexpectedly for 2026, there was a lot of flashy technology involved. If you didn't watch the ceremony yourself, this is a recap of the whole shebang. Since it's so long, I'll break it into two parts, dividing it somewhere in the middle of the Parade of Nations. 

We open with a montage video of someone skiing down a mountain, a traditionally dressed band, people hiking down a mountain, a restaurant preparing to open, a ringing church bell, athletes carrying their gear, people eating, zooming through gorgeous architecture, and then we count down from 30 and cut to the main stadium, where people are watching the video on the huge screens. We see a closeup of a man in a toga with white feathered wings, and the lights come up on the stage, where we see a series of glass boxes with giant busts or human statues in and around them. The winged figure touches one of the statues and suddenly they all come to life and it turns into a choreographed dance on a stage with spiral lighting. It is the story of Cupid and Psyche. There is throbbing, there is pulsing, there is lightning. Everyone gathers back around the winged god and we end with a recreation of the statue "Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss" by Canova. 

The music changes and we see a group of paparazzi with huge box cameras following a beautiful woman with a fabulous dress and a conductor's baton (she is Italian actress Matilda de Angelis, wearing a design by Massimo Cantini Parrini). She raises her baton and the music turns from jazz to a familiar opera overture and the lights come up on three figures with giant heads: legendary classical composers Rossini, Verdi, and Puccini. Dancers dressed as musical notes and symbols circle the stage as the woman continues to conduct, while familiar passages of classical music play. Giant tubes of red, blue, and yellow paint appear in the air above the stage and drop colorful scarves forming puddles of "paint".

More dancers, dressed in brilliant colors, in costumes inspired by centuries of Italian art, including architecture, historical figures, opera characters, and fashion design. An opera singer adds to the music as the colors mix together and then separate into a rainbow spiraling around the stage. A dancer in gold spangles appears with her backup dancers and the stage becomes a riot of sound and color, and the "conductor" dramatically cuts off the music as fireworks explode around the stage.  

The music changes once again, and the lights come up to reveal...Mariah Carey, draped in diamonds and fur (she looked stunning), singing the world's slowest (but still quite lovely) version of Volare.

It's in a surprisingly low register for her (almost too low at the very beginning), but she throws in few whistle notes just to remind you that she is, in fact, Mariah Carey, as she segues into "Nothing is Impossible". The giant heads reappear singing the song, "Milano e Cortina". Back to another video montage of people boarding buses, including children carrying stuffed versions of Tina and Milo (the stoats who are the Olympic mascots), musicians carrying their instruments, costumed flagbearers, and athletes with their gear. Everyone disembarks at the arena, but one of the children drops their stuffed animal, and the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella (recognizable by his fantastic white hair), picks it up and returns it with a smile, then receives a handshake from the driver, who is apparently a former Olympic athlete. 

We cut back to the stadium and the announcer introduces a tribute to designer Giorgio Armani as the president enters along with the IOC president (and seven-time Olympic medalist for swimming), Kirsty Coventry. 

[Fun fact: Coventry is the first female, the first non-European, and the first African - she is from Zimbabwe - to serve as IOC president.]

Three lines of supermodels wearing Armani suits in red, green, and white forming the stripes of the Italian flag parade across the stage, followed by Vittoria Ceretti (a fashion model probably most well known for being Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend), carrying a folded Italian flag, which she presents to a uniformed guard. The flag is passed to an all-female honor guard wearing very Napoleonic-looking uniforms, which slowly raises the flag as singer-songwriter Laura Pausini sings the beautiful Italian national anthem, joined by a choir, and the crowd explodes with patriotic enthusiasm. 

Video montage time! We zoom through the Alps to a violin player on a frozen lake surrounded by fires. Then back to the arena, where a man (probably someone famous? I missed his name) appears and recites a poem and the dancers around him slowly come to life. There is much dancing, there are strobe lights, there are smoke machines, and it's honestly a little boring until we see a giant floating gold Olympic ring gliding towards the stage with someone standing in it. Another glides in to join it, and they float upwards, slowly spinning, moving closer together, until the people inside them leap towards each other and perform aerial acrobatics as they sink back to the floor. Three more gold rings float in and the five rings join to form the Olympic symbol and burst with flame.

The announcer welcomes the crowd to the "first widespread Olympic games," and we see a video montage of the different venues and some of their events: Cortina d'Ampezzo (curling, luge, skiing), Predazzo (ski jumping), Tesero (Nordic skiing), Antholz Anterselva (biathlon), Bormio (Nordic and downhill skiing), Livigno (downhill skiing, snowboarding), and Milano (hockey, speed skating, figure skating). 

And now it's time for the parade of nations, touted as the "first widespread parade route". Since some of the venues are several hours apart, the teams will march at four of the venues, with some nations' teams divided into groups at multiple venues. Each group enters through a huge gold Olympic ring similar to the rings that flew in earlier, which serves to visually unite the groups from the same nation parading at different venues.  

Note on the order of nations: Traditionally, the Greek delegation is the first to enter, followed by all the nations in alphabetical order according to the language of the host country, with the final three delegations being those of the next nation to host (in this case, USA), the previous host nation (France), and finally the current host nation (Italy).

There was a lot less variety in the team uniforms than in some years, so we saw variations on a few common themes: puffer coats (long or short), often with contrasting colored zippers; multiple layers; knit beanies (with or without pompoms); snowsuit-style pants and jackets; and country names emblazoned on hats, scarves, pants, and coats. Also, as is nearly always the case, many team uniforms echoed the colors of their nation's flag, and there were occasionally a few variations of color or style within the team, sometimes divided by gender (e.g., men and women wearing different colored pants, jackets, or hats) or venue/sport (e.g., matching boots, different gloves/mittens/hats), and often the flagbearers wore a different outfit.  

The escorts are dressed in haute couture floor-length puffy metallic silver flared coats and giant stylized wraparound sunglasses (like the ones the eye doctor gives you after he dilates your pupils, only a lot larger and slightly cooler). The "signs" they carried were designed to look like blocks of ice. 

GREECE: The Greek delegation is wearing Anta-designed thigh-length white coats with cargo pockets over blue pants with matching blue beanies and black gloves. 

ALBANIA: Very similar to Greece, this team has thigh-length silvery-white jackets with black zippers and the word "ALBANIA" in red down the front, over black pants, with red beanies (one wore a white cowboy hat) and gloves. The flagbearers at one of the venues is wearing short red jackets and black beanies.  

ANDORRA: This team has short white jackets with zebra stripe yokes and armbands, either black track pants with white side stripes or solid black sweatpants, and black-and-white beanies with white pompoms. One of the flagbearers also has fluffy white mittens.  

 

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi designer Alya Alsalmi combined tradition and contemporary looks for the team. They are wearing traditional white robes with gold cording (fun fact: the outer robe is called a "thawb," sometimes spelled "thob" or "thobe") with white headpieces ("ghutras") with black cords ("aghals") over long gray and white underlayers (including a "dishdasha," which is essentially a long shirt with buttons).

ARGENTINA: The team has knee-length Tiffany blue (well, "Argentine blue") long puffer coats with two narrow horizontal white stripes across the chest and back, darker blue pants, white pompom beanies with matching blue trim, black gloves, and low white boots. 

ARMENIA: This team has short black hooded jackets, black ballcaps, black snow pants, and black boots. This look is so boring that I had a hard time finding a picture of it. But the photo I did find also captures the outfits of the people lining the parade route, which is black jackets with green and yellow patterns on the front and sleeves, black pants, a green beanie, and black boots.  

At this point we see a man with long lime green braids and wearing a cream-colored trench coat (DJ Mace) in a DJ booth seemingly carved out of ice bearing the Olympic rings logo. We also see the word "Armonia," or "harmony," projected onto one of the screens. This is the theme for these Olympics. 

Back to the parade of athletes!

AUSTRALIA: The Aussies are sporting Sportscraft short green hooded coats with gold trim over gold hooded puffer vests, matching green snow pants, gold knit hats, and white mittens. Some of the venues are apparently chillier than others and the athletes are wearing their outer jackets zipped, which is a much more subdued look than the vivid gold vests. Bonus points to the group who did a dance as they entered. Their jackets were zipped but they were anything but subdued. 

AUSTRIA: The Austrian men have short, subtly-patterned charcoal grey jackets with red zippers, black sweatpants, and red, black, and white patterned beanies, while the women have calf-length silver and white geometric print puffer coats w/red zippers, red sweatpants, and the same hats. One woman is wearing red sweatpants and a red puffer vest over a white knit sweater, with the same hat, so I suspect that may be what the other women are wearing under their long coats, and it's a great look. The pants all say "AUSTRIA" on one calf. Some of the hats have pompoms, and a few people have matching headbands instead. The uniforms were design by Alpha Tauri, a fashion brand owned by Red Bull, which explains a lot. 

AZERBAIJAN: The photo above is from the pre-Olympics fashion parade, because I couldn't find any photos from the actual ceremony. Their outfits are boring, with navy thigh-length coats with dark gray pants, and either black beanies with "AZE" in white on the front, or plain black ballcaps. Yawn. 

BELGIUM: The Belgians have fabulous vivid pixelated yellow short jackets with narrow red stripes across the front and narrow black stripes circling one armscye, with matching yellow pants with "BELGIUM" in black down one calf, and black beanies. Groups in the colder venues also wore black mittens (on strings!) and short black snow boots with furry tops. Fabulous style! Kudos to designer Alexia Fairchild in collaboration with Peak. 

BENIN: Team Benin has hip-length red jackets with white zippers, black pants, and white beanies. They look very cold and I wish they also had gloves or mittens. 

BOLIVIA: The Bolivians are wearing long puffer coats in a particularly ugly shade of olive drab, over gray pants with darker grey patches on the knees, with dark green beanies and black gloves. I would be so sad to make it to the Olympics and have to wear this fashion disaster. 

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: This delegation cleanses our sartorial palette in a cheery blue and gold short jacket with gold zippers, blue snow pants with gold trim and side stripes (a few people wore black pants), and blue beanies. I would be happy to wear this outfit after the Olympics. 

BRAZIL: Co-created by the Italian design house Moncler and Brazilian designer Oskar Metsavaht, the Brazilian uniform is an oddly shiny black long puffer jacket & knee-length puffer pants over black leggings, wide-brimmed black hats with vivid green underlining, and huge puffy black mittens on strings (which I find adorable). Their flagbearers are in a white version of the same outfit (although the woman is wearing a skirt instead of pants) that includes a large cape lined with the Brazilian flag, and it is so spectacular that I will forgive them for the puffy pants. 

BULGARIA: The Bulgarians are sporting cool red jackets with white panels along the sides and under the arms and vivid green zippers, red beanies (a few tan headbands instead), and either white pants with black accents at the hem or solid black pants. This is a great look. 

CANADA: Team Canada is wearing a Lululemon design consisting of double-layered black coats (an inner calf-length and an outer thigh-length) with huge burgundy quilted maple leaves, red wool ballcaps with a black maple leaf insignia and ear flaps (wore down or flipped up), and black pants. It looks like there's also an underlayer of a black hoodie with red laces. I wish the leaf on the coat were a more vivid red to match the hat, but it's a fun look. 

CZECHIA: Created by designers Anežka Berecková and Terezie Horňáková, the Czech uniforms are a very busy, geometric look in black, red, and greenish-gold, inclduing what appears to be a knit coat with knee-length knit shorts over matching print leggings, red and black scarves, red and black beanies with red, white, and black trim and black pompoms, and black boots with red laces. It's a whoooole lotta look. A few people are wearing white parkas over the sweater, which improves the look significantly. 

CHILE: Chile is mixing casual and dressy with white sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt under a long black wool coat with a split back, and a black beanie. One person had a short navy jacket instead of the long coat, and the flagbearers had super-flared pants, which looked very cool. 

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: The Chinese men are wearing bright blue puffer coats and the women are wearing lighter blue, belted puffer coats, and both have white pants, a looped white scarf with "CHINA" in red lettering (the jackets also said "CHINA" in red on the back), white beanies, and white boots with bright blue soles. There are also small red insignias and details on the pants and hats.  

CYPRUS: I couldn't even find a photo of the Cyprus team, so I had to take a picture of my television screen. Their uniform is a black jacket with a white standup collar and white stripes down the center and under the arms, and black pants. They are not wearing hats or gloves. 

COLOMBIA: The Colombians have a long yellow and black geometric print jacket with black yokes and big red patch pockets, red, yellow, and blue striped scarves, and gorgeous black and tan woven straw hats (although a few had burgundy and blue beanies). 

REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA): The Koreans are sporting short white hooded puffer jackets with a blue & pink "paint splash" pattern at the bottom and thin lines wrapping over one shoulder, black pants, and short black boots with fur trim. The stadium group is not wearing hats, but the contingent in another location has white beanies (one of the athletes has covered his beanie in pins - so cute).

CROATIA: Team Croatia is all in red  with a thigh-length jacket with white-lined hood and snow pants with just a hint of black trim, a red knit beanie, black gloves, and black boots. 

DENMARK: The Danes are wearing tan hooded puffer jackets, black pants, burgundy beanies with a cream band proclaiming "DENMARK" in burgundy with cream pompoms, and black hiking-style boots. A little bland, but the hats are cute.  

ECUADOR: Another difficult photo to find, Team Ecuador is in black calf-length puffer coats, wide-legged khaki pants, black beanies, and white gloves. A little boring, but certainly warm, which is probably more important when you're from Ecuador. 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Team UAE's outfits are very similar to Ecuador's, pairing a slightly shorter black puffer jacket with tan pants with black inserts at the hem. Some of the athletes are wearing black beanies with huge pompoms, but one is wearing a traditional white ghutra with a black aghal (see Saudi Arabia, above).

ERITREA: Another team I had to capture from my screen, the Eritreans are in short kelly green jackets with black and silver side panels, black pants, black beanies, black gloves, and gorgeous red scarves with blue and green patterns and white fringe. The scarves make the whole look. 

ESTONIA: The Estonians are wearing bright blue short hooded coats, with either black or white pants and pompom beanie. Some groups are also wearing corresponding black or white gloves. 

PHILIPPINES: The Filipinos are in bright blue short jackets with a wide black band across the abdomen, matching blue cuffed pants, and black beanies w/bright blue bottoms and a flag logo. The gray-lined cuffs are a nice detail. 

FINLAND: The Finns looks great in a Luhta design inspired by scenic Lapland (a region of Finland), consisting of white to blue ombre long vests over matching short coats, dark blue pants, white boots, and either matching black pompom beanies and gloves with black and white ombre patterns and a blue stripe, or black ballcaps with bright blue sequined front panels and the same ombre gloves. 

GEORGIA: Georgia is wearing bright blue hooded jackets with matching pants (or darker blue sweatpants at one of the venues), white pompom cable knit beanies (or blue, in one case), and white gloves. 

GERMANY: In true funky German fashion style, the Germans are in Adidas-designed black cape-style coats with red and yellow geometric patterns on the bottom and a red lining, with matching patterned black pants, over long-sleeved red shirts, with bucket hats that seem to be reversible, and can be inverted to be either solid black with "GERMANY" in gold lettering or a mottled print matching the rest of the outfit. They are also wearing white boots with gray soles and a bit of red trim. Very European, very fashionable. 

JAMAICA: The Jamaicans have different uniforms for different groups. The stadium group is in hip-length black coats with yellow zippers and green yokes and sleeve bands, and black pants with green bands, and black beanies with gold and black cuffs. The group in Cortina is wearing black jackets and pants (some cuffed) over bright gold jerseys, with black beanies with a gold logo. 

JAPAN: Japan's uniform is a red hooded hip-length puffer coat w/cargo pockets, black pants, black beanies (some bare-headed), and gray sneakers-style boots. A few are also wearing black gloves. 

GREAT BRITAIN: Team GB hits American levels of aggressive patriotism in a look from menswear designer Ben Sherman, including long navy wool coats and matching pants, a large white knit scarf proclaiming "GREAT BRITAIN" in red and blue lettering, navy blue beanies with a white stripe reading "GREAT BRITAIN" in red and blue lettering, boots with red, white, and blue laces, all over a cream sweater with a repeated Union Jack pattern running down the front. (We also get a quick glimpse of Princess Anne in the stands, wearing the same scarf.) The flagbearer also has what looks to be a hand-knitted Union Jack scarf. 

GUINEA-BISSAU: This team joins the Winter Olympics parade of nations for the first time, wearing  calf-length white puffer coats over black pants. The one woman wore a thick red scarf tucked into her collar, and the men wore gray ballcaps with green underbrims. The flagbearer also wore large copper-colored gloves with black trim. 

 

HAITI: Haiti's hand-painted uniforms were designed by Stella Jean, inspired by the work of Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié, and made in Italy by former ski champion Pietro Vitalini. The Haitians are wearing several styles of similar jackets, either mixing a green camo print with aqua, bright blue, and/or red panels. Most wore camo pants with a large aqua patch on one thigh, but one athlete wore navy blue sweats with "HAITI" in white on one hip. All wore black ballcaps with a red front panel and the letters "HAI" in white. The stadium group also scores points for dancing as they enter. 

HONG KONG, CHINA: In a design by Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning, the team is wearing knee-length white puffer coats with/ black yokes & elbow bands and black zippers, black pants, and a few black beanies. 

INDIA: The Indians are in long deep blue coats with black yokes over black pants, long white scarves w/ bands of burgundy embroidery, and burgundy brimless hats ("taqiyas") with gold embroidery. Some are also wearing black gloves. 

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN: Team is Iran is seriously channeling Buzz Lightyear (in a good way!) in short hooded jackets with a green, white, and red geometric design, white pants with red at the hem and green, white, and red stripes over at the top, and, depending on the venue, either black pompom beanies with "IRAN" on the cuff in white lettering or white beanies with red cuffs, green pompoms, and "IRAN" in green on the white part of the hat. Buzz notwithstanding, this is a great look.   

Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon!