Mariah Carey opened the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan with a medley of the Italian classic 'Volare' and her own ballad 'Nothing Is Impossible.' The performance highlighted her recent honors and marked the return of full in-person crowds after restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic. Other artists, including Andrea Bocelli, joined the ceremony lineup.
On February 6, 2026, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games kicked off at San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, with performances that blended international flair and contemporary music. Mariah Carey took the stage in a sparkling white dress and matching feather boa, delivering a rendition of Domenico Modugno’s “Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu,” known as “Volare.” She hit a notable whistle note during the song, showcasing her vocal prowess on the Italian standard. Carey then transitioned into “Nothing Is Impossible,” a track from her 2025 album Here for It All.
The event featured a roster of performers, including legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli, who sang the aria “Nessun Dorma.” Other artists on the bill were Pierfrancesco Favino, Sabrina Impacciatore, Laura Pausini, Lang Lang, Cecilia Bartoli, and Ghali. Prior to the ceremony, fans had speculated about a possible duet between Carey and Bocelli on “Volare,” though they performed separately.
This year’s games, hosted across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, represent the first Winter Olympics with unrestricted in-person spectators since 2018, following Covid-19 safety measures. Carey’s appearance comes amid a string of accolades: she received the Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards and MusiCares’ Person of the Year honor at the 2026 Grammys. In December 2025, her holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” set a record as the longest-running No. 1 song on the U.S. charts.
Adding to the inspirational tone, Taylor Swift shared a video message to the athletes before the ceremony began. “I just wanted to say thank you. Getting to learn your stories and see everything that you’ve sacrificed and all your determination and hard work and passion and everything that’s gotten you to this point where you’re so excellent at something, it’s just really inspiring,” Swift said. An instrumental version of her new single “Opalite” played in the background, with the video for the track released the same day. Swift continued, “I am very grateful for everything you’ve done to get to this point in your life, and grateful that you’ve brought us all along with you on this journey, so we get to watch you do this. I just hope that you have a wonderful Olympic Games, wishing you all the best of luck and a safe journey. And I hope that this is an experience that you would cherish for the rest of your life.”
Clips of Carey’s performance circulated quickly on YouTube and TikTok, drawing global attention to the start of the two-week competition.
