Olympics opening ceremony mascots, explained: What to know about Italian composers Verdi, Puccini and Rossini

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics was memorable, with Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and a host of world-class athletes taking center stage on Friday night.

They weren’t the only ones to make a splash, though. The proceedings also featured a trio of Italian greats who resurfaced after more than a century.

Italian composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini rose to fame in the 1800s. Though the maestros are long gone, three mascots dressed in their likenesses drew cheers during Friday’s festivities.

Here’s what you need to know.

MORE: Full schedule and viewing guide for 2026 Winter Olympics

Who were the three mascots at the Olympic opening ceremonies?

Opening ceremony organizers enlisted the services of a trio of Italian composers from times gone by to lead Friday's spectacle.

Mascots bearing the countenances of Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini traipsed onto the stage, basking in the spotlight as color spilled down the platform.

The triplets are not actually the 2026 Winter Olympics' official mascot. That honor belongs to siblings Tina and Milo, a pair of "cheerful stoats" whose names reference the site of this year's Winter Olympics: Tina hails from Cortina d’Ampezzo, while Milo is from Milano.

Who is Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer who rose to prominence writing operas. Born in Le Roncole, a village in the present-day province of Parma, Verdi composed more than two dozen operas over his lifetime. He was one of the most prolific composers of his era, achieving widespread fame throughout the 1800s. Among his most notable works are Rigoletto (1851), Requiem (1874), Otello (1887), and Falstaff (1893). His operas continue to captivate audiences more than a century later.

Who is Giacomo Puccini

Like Verdi, Puccini came to fame in the 19th century. The Lucca-born composer was similarly prolific, becoming best known for his embrace of verismo, a post-Romantic opera tradition that developed in conjunction to the literary movement of the same name (which centered around naturalism).

Puccini's produced dozens of compositions spanning various different genres, including art, piano, chamber and choral. His most seismic hits include La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900) and the unfinished Turandot (finished by Franco Alfano and released posthumously).

Who is Gioachino Rossini

Rounding out the list of esteemed Italian maestros is Giaochino Rossini, a late Classic and early Romantic era composer who produced 39 operas across his career. Rossini was versatile, authoring chamber and piano tunes as well as sacred music.

Rossini was a gifted talent, known for his timely hymns in comedic and serious works. He stepped away from composition in his 30s, at the height of his powers -- a decision that continues to baffle onlookers more than 150 years after his death.