2026 Winter Olympics Parade of Nations
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During the Parade of Nations within the Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, athletes and officials from each participating country marched in the San Siro Stadium preceded by their flag and placard bearer. Each flag bearer had been chosen either by the nation's National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves.
Parade order
By tradition, Greece entered first as the originator of the Olympics,[1] and Italy entered last as host. Per a new rule introduced by the International Olympic Committee at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo,[2] the United States entered antepenultimately as the host of the 2034 Winter Olympics, in Utah, and France entered penultimately as the host of the 2030 Winter Olympics, in the French Alps. All nations in between entered in the order of the host nation's language, Italian.
Taiwan, participating as Chinese Taipei, marched under T rather than C. The Czech Republic and Turkey marched using their official short-form names: Czechia and Türkiye, respectively.
Participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes
The Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus remain suspended in the aftermath of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee announced in September 2025 that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete at the 2026 Games as "Individual Neutral Athletes" with no representation in the parade of nations under the same rules used at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[3]
Locations
With the games divided into four geographic clusters, the Parade of Nations was held in four locations: San Siro Stadium in Milan, the city centre in Cortina, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium in Predazzo, and Livigno Snow Park in Livigno. Nations were allowed to name two flagbearers, even if all their athletes were at one location; as host country, Italy had four.[4]
List
The following is a list of each country's flag bearer. The list is sorted by the sequence that each nation appeared in the parade of nations.[5] The names are given in their official designations by the IOC, and the Italian names follow their official designations by the Milano Cortina Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.
See also
Notes
- ^ Monaco's only competitor, Arnaud Alessandria, missed the opening ceremony as he had a race on the following day.[47]
References
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- ^ "Future Olympic hosts to gain prominence in athletes' parades". www.olympics.com/. International Olympic Committee. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
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- ^ Barry, Colleen (16 October 2025). "The Milan-Cortina Olympic Opening Ceremony will spread across regions, like the Games themselves". NBC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony: All Flagbearers, all nations - complete list". Olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
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- ^ "Azərbaycan nümayəndə heyətinin XXV Qış Olimpiya Oyunlarına yollanacağı tarix bəlli olub" [The date of departure of the Azerbaijani delegation to the XXV Winter Olympic Games has been announced.] (in Azerbaijani). National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
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- ^ ""Het spijt me": vlaggendrager Maximilien Drion mist openingsceremonie, geannuleerde trein is de boosdoener" ["I'm sorry": Flag bearer Maximilien Drion misses opening ceremony, cancelled train is to blame] (in Dutch). Sporza. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
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- ^ "Lucas Pinheiro Braathen e Nicole Silveira serão os porta-bandeiras do Brasil na Cerimônia de Abertura: saiba mais sobre eles" [Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and Nicole Silveira will be Brazil's flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony: learn more about them]. Olympics.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). International Olympic Committee. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Весела Лечева: Самото участие на Олимпийски игри вече е победа" [Vesela Letcheva: Just participating in the Olympic Games is already a victory]. Bulgarian News Agency (in Bulgarian). 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Olympic stars Kingsbury, Thompson chosen as Canada's flag-bearers for Milano-Cortina Games". 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Volba sportovců: Pastrňák ponese českou vlajku v Miláně, biatlonistka Charvátová v Cortině" [Athletes' Choice: Pastrňák will carry the Czech flag in Milan, biathlete Charvátová in Cortina] (in Czech). Czech Olympic Committee. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Speed skaters Ning, Zhang named as China's flagbearers for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony". Xinhua.net. Xinhua News Agency. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Detalles de la Ceremonia de Inauguración de Milán – Cortina 2026" [Details of the Milan – Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony] (in Spanish). Colombian Olympic Committee. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Figure skater, speed skater named co-flag bearers for S. Korea at Winter Olympics". 26 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ "Valentina Aščić i Matija Legović hrvatski stjegonoše na otvaranju ZOI-ja u Milanu i Cortini" [Valentina Aščić and Matija Legović, Croatian flag bearers at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina]. Croatian Olympic Committee. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Her er Danmarks fanebærere" [Here are Denmark's fan bearers]. OL.dk (in Danish). 12 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Lewis, Andy (15 January 2026). "UAE set for historic first participation in Winter Olympics". The National. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Estonia's Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony flag bearers announced". Estonian Public Broadcasting. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Krista Pärmäkoski ja Mikko Lehtonen Suomen lipunkantajina talviolympialaisten avajaisissa" (in Finnish). Finnish Olympic Committee. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "ზამთრის XXV ოლიმპიურ თამაშებზე საქართველო სპორტსმენთა გაცილების და ფიცის დადების ცერემონია" [Georgian athletes' farewell and oath-taking ceremony at the XXV Olympic Winter Games] (in Georgian). Georgian NOC. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Schmid und Draisaitl sind die deutschen Fahnenträger" [Schmid and Draisaitl are the German flag bearers] (in Georgian). ARD. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "森重航將擔任米蘭冬奧日本代表團旗手" [Wataru Morishige will serve as the flag bearer for the Japanese delegation at the Milan Winter Olympics] (in Japanese). Kyodo News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ^ "第25回オリンピック冬季競技大会(2026/ミラノ・コルティナ)Team Japan 旗手の選任について" [The 25th Olympic Winter Games (2026/Milan-Cortina) Team Japan flag bearers] (in Japanese). Japanese Olympic Committee. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Fear and Hall named 2026 Team GB flagbearers". BBC. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Hong Kong, China Delegation sets off for Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games". Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Allianz Flagbearers Revealed for Team Ireland at the Winter Olympics". Olympic Federation of Ireland. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "AFánaberar Íslands á setningarhátíð Vetrarólympíuleikanna í Milano Cortina 2026" [Icelandic flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026=] (in Icelandic). National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "מריה סניוק תישא את דגל ישראל בטקס הפתיחה של משחקי החורף מילאנו קורטינה 2026" [Mariia Seniuk will carry the Israeli flag at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games] (in Hebrew). Olympic Committee of Israel. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ^ Omirgazy, Dana (31 December 2025). "Kazakhstan Names Flag Bearers for Milan 2026 Winter Olympics". Astana, Kazakhstan: Astana Times. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Karogus Milānas-Kortīnas Ziemas Olimpiskajās spēlēs nesīs Ģērmane un Daugaviņš" [Ģērmane and Daugavinš will carry the flags at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics] (in Latvian). Latvian Olympic Committee. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Milano Cortina 2026: Martin Kranz trägt die Fahne Liechtensteins an der Eröffnungsfeier" [Milano Cortina 2026: Martin Kranz carries the Liechtenstein flag at the opening ceremony] (in German). Lie:zeit. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Lietuvos vėliavą olimpinių žaidynių atidarymo ceremonijoje neš dailiojo čiuožimo pora" [Figure skating pair to carry Lithuanian flag at Olympic opening ceremony] (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian National Olympic Committee. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Matthieu Osch portera le drapeau luxembourgeois à Milan" [Matthieu Osch will carry the Luxembourg flag in Milan] (in French). Luxemburger Wort. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Македонската делегација пристигна во Милано" [The Macedonian delegation arrived in Milan] (in Macedonian). Olympic Committee of North Macedonia. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Aruwin Qualifies for Her Second Consecutive Olympic Winter Games". Olympic Council of Malaysia. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Malta to Be Represented by Cross Country Skier Jenny Axisa Eriksen at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games". Maltese Olympic Committee. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Sarah Schleper y Donovan Carrillo abanderados por México a Milano-Cortina 2026" [Sarah Schleper and Donovan Carrillo flagbearers for Mexico at Milano-Cortina 2026] (in Spanish). Comité Olímpico Mexicano. 10 January 2026. Archived from the original on 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ^ "Schiorii Iulian Luchin și Elizaveta Hlusovici vor debuta la o ediție a Jocurilor Olimpice" [Skiers Iulian Luchin and Elizaveta Hlusovici will debut at an Olympic Games] (in Romanian). National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Moldova. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ Comité Olympique Monégasque (6 February 2026). "JO de @milanocortina2026 : pourquoi la délégation monégasque ne défilera pas lors de la cérémonie d'ouverture" (in French). Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Jeux olympiques de Milan-Cortina : Arnaud Alessandria, seul représentant monégasque en lice" [Milan-Cortina Olympic Games: Arnaud Alessandria, the only Monegasque representative in the running] (in French). Monaco Tribune. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "U susret Zimskim olimpijskim igrama (ZOI) Milano–Cortina 2026 Predsjednik Milatović primio crnogorske predstavnike i uručio državnu zastavu Pekoviću" [Ahead of the Winter Olympic Games (WOI) Milano–Cortina 2026, President Milatović received Montenegrin representatives and presented the national flag to Peković] (in Latvian). Montenegro Olympic Committee. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Kajsa Vickhoff Lie og Peder Kongshaug blir norske flaggbærere under spesiell OL-åpning" [Kajsa Vickhoff Lie and Peder Kongshaug will be Norwegian flag bearers during special Olympic opening ceremony] (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Sadowski-Synnott & Barclay named NZ Team flag bearers". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Jens van 't Wout en Kimberley Bos vlaggendragers Milaan en Cortina" [Jens van 't Wout and Kimberley Bos flag bearers Milan and Cortina] (in Dutch). TeamNL. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Igrzyska 2026 - 60 sportowców w składzie, Stoch i Czerwonka chorążymi" [R2026 Games - 60 athletes in the line-up, Stoch and Czerwonka ensigns] (in Polish). Radio Wrocław. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ "Vanina Guerillot e José Cabeça escolhidos porta-bandeiras de Portugal na Cerimônia de Abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Inverno Milano Cortina 2026" [Vanina Guerillot and José Cabeça chosen as Portugal's flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games]. Olympics.com (in Portuguese). International Olympic Committee. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Milano Cortina 2026 - Cristi Chivu a purtat Flacăra Olimpică, la Milano" [Milano Cortina 2026 - Cristi Chivu carried the Olympic Flame in Milan] (in Romanian). Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Milano-Cortina 2026: domani la cerimonia d'apertura. Mini sfilerà a Livigno, le istituzioni sammarinesi presenti a San Siro" [Milan-Cortina 2026: the opening ceremony is tomorrow. Mini will parade in Livigno, and San Marino institutions will be present at San Siro.] (in Italian). Sammarinese National Olympic Committee. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Anja Ilić i Miloš Milosavljević nosioci zastave Srbije na ceremoniji otvaranja Zimskih olimpijskih igara u Milanun i Kortini!" [Anja Ilić and Miloš Milosavljević, bearers of the flag of Serbia at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina!] (in Serbian). Olympic Committee of Serbia. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Vlajkonosičmi SR na otvorení ZOH 2026 budú Tatar a Čerňanská" [Tatar and Čerňanská will be the flag bearers of the Slovak Republic at the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics] (in Slovak). Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Prevc Siblings To Carry Slovenia's Flag At Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony". Connecting the Region. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony: All flagbearers, all nations - complete list". IOC. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Lemke, Gary (4 February 2026). "Smith, Burger to carry flag at opening ceremony". TeamSA. South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Sveriges fanbärare vid invigningen av Milano Cortina 2026" [Sweden's flag bearers at the opening of Milano Cortina 2026] (in Swedish). Swedish Olympic Committee. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Fanny Smith und Nino Niederreiter tragen die Schweizer Fahne an den Olympia-Eröffnungsfeiern" [Fanny Smith and Nino Niederreiter carry the Swiss flag at the Olympic opening ceremonies] (in German). Swiss Olympic Association. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "米蘭冬奧6日開幕 林欣蓉、李宇翔擔任掌旗官" [The Milan Winter Olympics opened on June 6th, with Lin Hsin-jung and Li Yu-hsiang serving as flag bearers.] (in Chinese). Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Alpine Athletes Named as Flag Bearers for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games". Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
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- ^ "Fogadalmat tett a téli olimpiára készülő Magyar Csapat" (in Hungarian). Hungarian Olympic Committee. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ "Daniil Yeybog Oʻzbekiston delegatsiyasining bayroqdori boʻladi" [Daniil Yeybog will be the flag bearer of the Uzbek delegation] (in Uzbek). National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Team USA Reveals Flag Bearers for Opening Ceremony of Milan Cortina Olympics". today.com. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
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