Mariah Carey to Perform at 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan

Mariah Carey is taking her talents overseas for a very special reason — the 2026 Winter Olympics!

On Monday, Dec. 15, the Grammy winner was announced as the first major star set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Games on Feb. 6 at Milano’s San Siro Olympic Stadium.

Carey, 56, helped share the news in an Instagram video that featured her looking glamorous in a red dress and diamond necklace.

“Ciao. Get ready for Milano Cortina 2026. See you at the Stadium San Siro on the 6th of February for the Olympic opening ceremony. Ci vediamo a Milano,” she said in the clip, ending with a translation of “See you in Milan.”

In a statement shared with NBC, the Olympics local organizing committee said Carey “fully represents the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the run-up to the Games.”

“Music is a universal language that attracts different stories and sensibilities, and intertwines with the opening ceremony’s theme of harmony,” the committee said.

The opening ceremony is led by creative director Marco Balich, and through the “harmony” theme will showcase “Italian spirit, innovation and emotion with performances by world-renowned artists,” according to a press release.

Ballet star Roberto Bolle is set to headline the closing ceremony, which will take place on Feb. 22 at the Roman arena in Verona.

The Olympics often taps celebrities to help open and close the Games. Last July, Lady Gaga and Céline Dion performed at the opening ceremony in Paris ahead of the 2024 Summer Games.

Carey has been booked and busy over the last few months. She released her 16th studio album, Here for It All, in September, her first in eight years. Then in November and December, she played 10 residency dates of her Christmas Time show at Dolby Live in Las Vegas.

“Thank you to everyone who made Christmastime possible in Vegas ❤️ I enjoyed that! 🦋❄️🎄,” she captioned an Instagram post celebrating the residency on Sunday, Dec. 14.