San Siro Stadium
The stage is set for a historic winter in Italy. As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially begin this Friday, February 6, all eyes are on the legendary San Siro Stadium and the iconic peaks of the Dolomites.
From the return of a skiing icon to a high-stakes rivalry on the ice, here is everything you need to know about the women’s performances and the official schedule.
Mariah Carey (Photo Courtesy of AP News)
The “Armonia” Opening Ceremony
The 2026 Games are breaking tradition with a dual-city opening. While the main show, “Armonia,” takes place at Milan’s San Siro, simultaneous celebrations will light up Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno.
* Performances: Expect a vocal powerhouse lineup featuring Mariah Carey (singing in Italian!), Andrea Bocelli, and Laura Pausini.
* The Moment: A unique dual cauldron lighting will occur at Milan’s Arco della Pace and Cortina’s Piazza Dibona.
* Watch Live: NBC and Peacock will air the ceremony live at 2 p.m. ET, with a primetime encore at 8 p.m. ET.
Women’s Favorites: Who to Watch
This year, the women’s events are defined by “The GOATs vs. The Rising Stars.”
Figure Skating: USA vs. Japan
In the Team Event, the United States and Japan are the heavy favorites for Gold and Silver. Team USA is led by the sensational Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn, while Japan counters with three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto. The battle will likely be decided in the Ice Dance and Pairs programs.
Mikaela Shiffrin smiles after winning an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom in Semmering, Austria, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Alpine Skiing: The Shiffrin Factor
Mikaela Shiffrin enters as the gold-medal favorite in the Slalom and Giant Slalom. After a dominant 2025 season, she is at the peak of her technical powers and is the woman to beat on the Italian slopes.
Ice Hockey: The Classic Rivalry
As always, Team USA and Canada are the frontrunners. USA captain Hilary Knight is looking to lead her team back to the top of the podium after a silver finish in 2022.
Lindsey Vonn Image Courtesy of Red Bull
The Lindsey Vonn “Surprise”: Can She Win?
The biggest storyline of the Games is 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn. Despite retiring years ago and recently suffering a ruptured ACL during training in January, Vonn has confirmed she will attempt to race in the Downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8.
* Can she win? Vonn is a master of the Tofane course in Cortina, where she has won more races than any other skier. While a podium finish with a torn ACL sounds like science fiction, Vonn has spent her career defying the odds.
* The Goal: Even if a gold medal is a long shot due to the injury, simply reaching the starting gate is being hailed as one of the greatest “surprises” in Olympic history.
Women’s Daily Event Highlights Schedule
Note: All times are ET. Schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions.
Date | Key Women’s Event | Time (ET)
Feb 6 | Opening Ceremony / Figure Skating Team Event | 2:00 PM
Feb 7 | Ski Jumping (Normal Hill) / USA vs. Finland Hockey | 10:40 AM
Feb 8 | Alpine Skiing: Women’s Downhill (Vonn & Shiffrin) | 5:30 AM
Feb 9 | USA vs. Switzerland Hockey / Figure Skating Team Final | 2:40 PM
Feb 10 | The Big One: Canada vs. USA Hockey (Prelims) | 2:10 PM
Feb 12 | Alpine Skiing: Women’s Super-G | 5:30 AM
Feb 15 | Alpine Skiing: Women’s Giant Slalom | 4:00 AM
Feb 18 | Alpine Skiing: Women’s Slalom | 4:00 AM |
Feb 19 | Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game | 1:10 PM |
Feb 21 | Women’s Curling Finals | 4:00 AM |
MUST READS
MASSIVE DRAMA IN THE WOMEN’S DRAW AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN – Athletica Sports
Beyond the Podium: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Female Athletes – Athletica Sports
Viorica Bruni Editor Athletica Sports Web Publication
