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Opera Star Andrea Bocelli to Headline 2026 Olympics
6 Feb
Summary
- Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will headline the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
- He lost his sight at age 12 due to glaucoma and a soccer accident.
- Bocelli's 1997 album 'Romanza' is the best-selling by an Italian artist ever.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, held at San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan, Italy, will feature renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli as its headliner. Bocelli, born in Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy, on September 22, 1958, has achieved international acclaim over his decades-long career.
Bocelli lost his vision entirely at the age of 12 following an accident, after having been diagnosed with congenital glaucoma as an infant. Despite this, he pursued his passion for music, learning several instruments and beginning to sing at a young age.
His breakthrough came in 1994 with a win at Italy's Sanremo Music Festival. He has since released 18 studio albums and five collaborative albums, selling over 80 million records worldwide. Bocelli previously performed at the 2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Turin.
His notable collaborations include duets with Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, and Ariana Grande. The song "The Prayer," a duet with Celine Dion, won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.
