Greece, as always, will be the first country introduced in the Parade of Nations for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Greece's Olympic Team looks to skier Alexandros Ioannis Ginnis for its first medal in the Winter Games starting in the Italian Alps

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics officially get underway on Friday, February 6, with the Opening Ceremony, which features the flag bearers from every participating country making the march alongside the country’s flag and their countrymates who will be

Here's what to know about the Parade of Nations in the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony and how the country order is determined.

The Olympic torch is a symbol of peace and unity , passed around the world in the spirit of co-operation, and for each Games, the host country designs a unique torch that often has references to a national landmark or a piece of history. Lighting the cauldron is a symbolic way to start the Games, and it is extinguished during the Closing Ceremony.

It has nothing to do with alphabetical order.

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics officially started Friday afternoon with the opening ceremony.

An unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Winter Olympics opening ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture has officially kicked off the Milan Cortina Games, as the sports spectacle returns to a nation that last hosted the event 20 years ago.