Salt Lake City will officially kick off the first night of what officials are calling The Watch Party on Friday as a way to connect to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
It’s a free, five-week, nightly celebration of the world’s largest winter sporting competition. Coverage from Milan-Cortina will be broadcast at the Civic Center, 450 S. 200 East, an area between Salt Lake City Main Library and Washington Square.
“It’s not just a watch party, it is ‘the’ watch party,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “We’re chomping at the bit for eight years from now when it’s our turn to welcome the world again, but — in the meantime — we don’t want to wait to celebrate. We’re ready to get together now.”
Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics in 2024. Thousands of Utahns jammed Washington Square for the announcement, something city officials hope will be repeated in the days ahead.
All are welcome, but officials advise attendees to dress warmly, as it is an outdoor event. Nightly celebrations will include food trucks, live music, warming stations and plenty of space to gather with friends and neighbors.
Opening night, which will be built around Friday’s Opening Ceremony from Milan, will go as follows:
- 4 p.m. — Entertainment begins
- 5 p.m. — Performance by singer-songwriter Joshua James
- 6 p.m. — Program begins, featuring additional performances, a drone show and more
- 7-10 p.m. — Prime-time broadcast
Watch parties will continue nightly until Feb. 22 and will resume March 6-15 for the Paralympics. The calendar can be found here.
“In the next couple of weeks, we’re going to watch so many Utahns (compete),” said Ted Ligety, a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Ligety is of course referring to the 81 Olympic athletes with ties to Utah. Ligety was born and raised in Utah and won two Olympic gold medals, one in 2006 and another in 2014.
You can RSVP to the opening watch party here.