As the 2026 Winter Olympics began, nearly 3,000 athletes from around the world gathered for the opening ceremony and its traditional Parade of Nations. Athletes, generally wearing their official national uniforms, march country by country led by flagbearers. For Team USA, speedskater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca were chosen as flagbearers. The ceremony concludes with the Olympic torch lighting the cauldron — this year there are two, one in Milan and one in Cortina.
How is the order of countries decided?
One constant in Parade of Nations ordering is that Greece always enters first, honoring its status as the birthplace of the Games. After Greece, delegations enter in alphabetical order according to the host country’s language. For Milano Cortina 2026, that means countries are ordered by the Italian alphabet — for example, Japan (“Giappone”) will come before Hungary (“Ungheria”) in the procession despite the opposite order in English.
There are exceptions. The host country enters last, and the nation hosting the next Games enters second-to-last. Because the 2030 Winter Games will be in the French Alps, France entered just before Italy in this parade.
Team composition notes
The lineup sometimes includes an Olympic Refugee Team, but there is no Olympic Refugee Team at Milano Cortina 2026. Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), the designation used for athletes from Russia and Belarus who may be permitted to compete under neutral status, are not participating in the opening ceremony parade, per the International Olympic Committee.
How many delegations march?
Technically the parade is of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), not countries. There are 206 NOCs in the Olympic movement, but fewer take part in Winter Games than in Summer Games — typically around 90. For Milano Cortina 2026, about 92 NOCs were expected to participate.
History of the Parade of Nations
The modern Olympics began in 1896, and the Parade of Nations was introduced at the 1908 London Games. Over time it has become a central and symbolic part of the opening ceremony, reflecting both national pride and international unity. The tradition of Greece marching first was established in 1928.
The format has evolved: in the 1920s athletes sometimes marched carrying equipment such as skis and skates, a practice that has since ended. Another major change is scale — today’s ceremonies include athletes from many more countries than early Games, and Winter opening ceremonies differ from Summer ones in that athletes are more bundled up and Winter events generally include fewer sports and participants.
Participation is optional
All athletes are invited to take part in the Parade of Nations, but many opt out because the ceremony can be long and physically demanding, sometimes taking place the day before competition. Still, for many competitors the parade is a highlight. As one guide at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum noted, the opening ceremony and Parade of Nations often leave the most lasting impression for athletes, embodying camaraderie, pride and the experience of representing one’s country on a global stage.