(NEXSTAR) - San Siro Stadium will host the opening ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics this Friday. The event coincides with the historic venue's 100th anniversary and is expected to be the largest in the stadium's history. Italy's largest stadium, which holds 76,000 spectators, is currently undergoing preparations for the event. The ceremony is expected to be one of the final major functions for the San Siro, as the facility is scheduled for demolition to make way for a new stadium. The stadium serves as the home field for both AC Milan and Inter Milan. It has a long history of hosting major athletic competitions, including a semi-final match during the 1934 World Cup. Officials refer to the venue as the "Temple of Football" due to its significance in the sport. Beyond its athletic history, the stadium has served as a venue for some of the world's most prominent musical artists. Bob Marley performed at the facility in 1980 and Taylor Swift held a tour date at the stadium in 2024. As the stadium reaches its centennial year, it required several upgrades to prepare for the Olympic festivities. These preparations are currently underway to ensure the venue is ready for what is expected to be its largest event to date. The opening ceremony will feature high-profile musical performances. Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey are both scheduled to perform during the Friday event. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place this Friday. While the stadium is set to be demolished following the event to make room for a new stadium, specific dates for the start of construction have not been announced. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.