Demi Lovato and Jon Batiste will perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games on June 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium, kicking off a weeklong competition that will bring nearly 3,000 athletes from all 50 states to Minnesota.
The two-and-a-half-hour ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature separate performances from Lovato and Batiste, punctuating the evening’s large-scale production with signature moments throughout the celebration, alongside entertainment and traditions at the heart of the Special Olympics movement. Tickets are available now at https://gophersports.evenue.net/events/SO.
The evening will feature the Parade of Athletes as delegations enter the stadium, remarks from Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver and the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Games.
The Opening Ceremony kicks off the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, taking place June 20–26 across the Twin Cities. Competitions will be held at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine, with more than 100,000 fans expected throughout the week. In addition to competition, fans can experience Fan Zones and community events that bring them closer to the athletes and the mission behind the movement.
The Games will conclude June 26 with a free Closing Ceremony at Huntington Bank Stadium, a celebratory finale featuring entertainment and the symbolic passing of the torch to the next host city. For tickets and more details about the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, competition and Fan Zone schedules, and volunteer opportunities, visit 2026specialolympicsusagames.org.