American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, organisers have confirmed.

The five-time Grammy Award winner will be among the leading performers at the ceremony, scheduled for Friday, February 6, at Milan’s San Siro stadium. The venue is home to Italian football clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan and will serve as a central stage for the start of the Games.

The Winter Olympics, jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, will run from February 6 to February 22. While the main opening ceremony will take place in Milan, athletes will also be able to participate remotely from competition venues across Cortina, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme.

Carey, who is 56, has a history of performing at major international sporting events. Her previous appearances include singing the United States national anthem at the NFL Super Bowl in 2002, performing at the NBA All-Star Game in 2003, and delivering a musical performance at the women’s final of the 2020 US Open tennis championship.

Her appearance at the Winter Olympics places her among a line of high-profile artists who have featured at recent Olympic opening ceremonies. Céline Dion and Lady Gaga both performed at the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The Milan-Cortina Games are expected to draw global attention as Italy hosts the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2006.

Source: The Ghana Report (via BBC)