How the Olympics' Parade of Nations country order works

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

Why was the US put at the end of the Olympic opening ceremony parade (again)?

In the last Olympics, the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, the U.S. went second-to-last as athletes paraded down the Seine River. The logic there was similar: Los Angeles is hosting the next summer Olympics in 2028.

Russian woman carried Ukraine placard at Winter Olympics opening ceremony

A Russian woman in Milan made a quiet protest against the war by leading Ukraine’s Olympic team into the stadium

A Very Retro Olympics Opening Ceremony

The performance in Milan looked squarely at the past, both in substance and in style.

What to Expect at the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, From the Man Behind Them

Marco Balich has helped design grand spectacles at more than half a dozen Olympics. On Friday, he’ll do it again, on home turf in Italy.

Rai sports boss departs after Olympic opening ceremony mistakes

Paolo Petrecca, head of sports at Italian public broadcaster Rai, has left the role due to a series of mistakes during the live TV broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremony in Milan. The 61-year-old submitted his resignation after receiving heavy criticism,

Olympics Blunder Prompts Italian Broadcaster RAI Sports Chief to Resign After Misidentifying Matilda De Angelis as Mariah Carey in Opening Ceremony

Paolo Petrecca, head of the sports unit of Italian state broadcaster RAI, stepped down on Thursday following backlash triggered by a series of live blunders he made while commenting the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony during which he misidentified Italian actress Matilda De Angelis as Mariah Carey.