Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026 opening ceremony: When and where to watch?

The Winter Paralympics 2026 will officially begin in Italy on March 6 with a spectacular opening ceremony. The Games will run until March 15 and bring together hundreds of elite athletes with physical and visual impairments from around the world.

Competitors will participate in several winter sports events across multiple venues. Organisers say this edition will be the biggest Winter Paralympics ever held, highlighting both sporting excellence and the growing strength of the Paralympic movement.The event also marks an important historical milestone. The 2026 edition celebrates 50 years since the first Winter Paralympics were staged in Örnsköldsvik in 1976.

That event featured fewer than 200 athletes from 18 countries. Today, the scale of the competition has expanded significantly. More than 600 athletes from over 50 nations are competing in 79 medal events across six sports. The Games now represent one of the most important global platforms for inclusive sport.

Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026 opening ceremony: Italy creates record as 600+ athletes compete

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics will be held at the historic Arena di Verona, one of Italy’s most famous ancient amphitheatres.

The ceremony is set to become the first Paralympic opening event ever staged at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The program will showcase Italian culture, music and technology. Several performers will take part in the ceremony, including Stewart Copeland, Mimi Caruso, and DJ Miky Bionic.According to the International Paralympic Committee, the 2026 edition is expected to become the largest Winter Paralympics in history.

A record 616 athletes from 56 countries will compete in 79 medal events across six sports. This number surpasses the participation seen at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, where 564 athletes from 49 nations took part.Athletes will compete in six disciplines: Para-Alpine skiing, Para-biathlon, Para-cross-country skiing, Para-ice hockey, Para-snowboard and wheelchair curling. Officials said the rising number of participants reflects the continued growth and global appeal of Paralympic sport.However, the ceremony will take place amid political tensions. Some nations indicated they might boycott the event after the decision to allow Russia’s national flag and anthem to return to international competition. Despite these challenges, the focus remains on the athletes. Participation records were also set in women’s sport. The International Paralympic Committee confirmed that 160 female athletes are competing this year. This figure is 24 higher than the previous record at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, marking another step forward for inclusion in global sport.