The order of countries in the Parade of Nations is a carefully crafted spectacle that weaves together national pride, global unity, and historical tradition. As the world's top athletes gather for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, nearly 3,000 representatives from 92 National Olympic Committees will march into the iconic venue, led by flagbearers carrying their nation's colors.
The sequence begins with Greece, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, always taking center stage. Following Greece is a alphabetical lineup of countries based on the language of the host country. For instance, Japan will be listed before Hungary in the English alphabet due to its spelling in Italian as "Giappone" and Hungarian as "Ungheria." However, there are exceptions – the final country to enter is always the host nation, while the penultimate entry belongs to the next Games' host.
This year's lineup also includes athletes from Russian and Belarus, known as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), who have chosen not to participate in the Parade of Nations. In contrast, the Olympic Refugee Team has been a notable inclusion in past Games.
In total, 92 National Olympic Committees will be represented, with only around 90 typically participating in Winter Olympics events. The structure of the opening ceremony remains largely unchanged since its inception at the 1908 London Games, when athletes marched with their equipment and the Greek delegation was introduced as the first to enter.
For many participants, being part of the Parade of Nations is a source of immense pride, symbolizing national unity and global camaraderie. "That sense of pride, camaraderie and going out there for your country is just something that's hard to replicate," says Mark McDowell, a tour guide at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum.
The scale of the ceremony has grown significantly over the years, with athletes from more countries participating than ever before. Despite this expansion, the Parade of Nations remains an integral part of the opening ceremony, showcasing the diversity and unity that define the Olympic spirit.
The sequence begins with Greece, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, always taking center stage. Following Greece is a alphabetical lineup of countries based on the language of the host country. For instance, Japan will be listed before Hungary in the English alphabet due to its spelling in Italian as "Giappone" and Hungarian as "Ungheria." However, there are exceptions – the final country to enter is always the host nation, while the penultimate entry belongs to the next Games' host.
This year's lineup also includes athletes from Russian and Belarus, known as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), who have chosen not to participate in the Parade of Nations. In contrast, the Olympic Refugee Team has been a notable inclusion in past Games.
In total, 92 National Olympic Committees will be represented, with only around 90 typically participating in Winter Olympics events. The structure of the opening ceremony remains largely unchanged since its inception at the 1908 London Games, when athletes marched with their equipment and the Greek delegation was introduced as the first to enter.
For many participants, being part of the Parade of Nations is a source of immense pride, symbolizing national unity and global camaraderie. "That sense of pride, camaraderie and going out there for your country is just something that's hard to replicate," says Mark McDowell, a tour guide at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum.
The scale of the ceremony has grown significantly over the years, with athletes from more countries participating than ever before. Despite this expansion, the Parade of Nations remains an integral part of the opening ceremony, showcasing the diversity and unity that define the Olympic spirit.
. I love how some countries have unique traditions, like Greece always starting the parade (very cool history btw). And those Russian and Belarus athletes opting out is interesting - it's not often you see that on a big stage like this. The fact that there are only 90 participating nations usually is crazy to think about though... how do all these countries fit into that ceremony? 
like its not even that deep. i mean what's the point of it? just a bunch of countries walkin in order in alphabetic order, its so predictable. and whats with all the fuss about russian & belarus not participatin? we should be talkin about the athletes, not who gets to march first 
I'm so stoked for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy! 
The Parade of Nations is always such a cool moment, it's like a big party with all these countries coming together to show their unity and pride. 
And can you believe they're gonna have athletes from Russian and Belarus participating as Individual Neutral Athletes? That's so interesting! 
... I mean, I love watching them as much as the next person, but have you seen how many countries are on this list now? Like, back in my day we had like 10 teams max and everyone was super stoked to be representing their country! Now it's like 92+ and I feel like they're just trying to cram in every single nation 
. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome that more countries are getting involved, but can't they just keep the Parade of Nations simple and classic? I mean, I love the Greek delegation still being first - it's like a tradition that never gets old 
. You know how sometimes we can't help but feel proud of where we come from? That's exactly what these athletes are feeling right now 
. It's not just about their individual achievements, but about representing their country and showing the world what they're made of 
. And let's be real, it's also about showing off those national flags and making a big splash in front of thousands of people 
. And can you believe Greece always takes center stage? 
. But seriously, I love how it brings everyone together, even though Russia and Belarus aren't participating this year 
, and then there's this crazy alphabet thingy with japan before hungary lol. but honestly, its all good cos its not just about the countries, its about the ppl who are makin it happen. & can we talk bout the olympic refugee team 4 a sec?? 
Every athlete who participates in the Parade of Nations is on this incredible journey to showcase their talents and represent their nation, which is a true celebration of human excellence! 
- like, what's up with that?! And can we talk about how cool it is to see all these athletes march together? It gives me chills thinking about all those countries coming together for a good cause 
. Anyway, can we talk about how epic the Parade of Nations is? It's like the ultimate display of national pride and unity 
. And I love how they've included athletes from Russian and Belarus as Individual Neutral Athletes, showing that even in tough times, we can still come together for sports & unity 
. It's like they're still holding their own flag high even if it's just a neutral one 
. And what about the Olympic Refugee Team? I love how they add an extra layer of diversity to the ceremony 
...
Not trying to be negative, but I think it's a bit weird that some athletes have to choose between representing themselves or not participating in the parade 
! The fact that Russian & Belarusian athletes are participating as Individual Neutral Athletes is so cool 
Italy's gonna host some epic games this year! I mean, 92 nations participating is crazy talk 
The fact that they're still sticking to the old-school format after all these years just shows how much heart goes into this whole Olympic thing. And let's be real, it's all about the spectacle – and Milan and Cortina are gonna deliver! 
and omg the olympic refugee team is so cool! 