The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics closed with a Beauty in Action ceremony at the Arena di Verona on Sunday 22 February 2026, bringing the XXV Olympic Winter Games to an end after 17 days of competition. For the first time in Winter Olympic history, two Olympic cauldrons were extinguished simultaneously in different cities, and the Olympic flag was handed to representatives of French Alps 2030 by IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
What is an Olympic Closing Ceremony?
The Olympic closing ceremony is the formal end to each Games. It combines protocol elements such as the parade of athletes, the extinguishing of the Olympic flame and the handover of the Olympic flag to the next host city with a cultural show celebrating the hosting nation. Unlike the opening ceremony, where athletes march in by nation, the closing ceremony sees athletes enter together regardless of delegation, a tradition established at Melbourne 1956 to symbolise the unity of the Games.
The ceremony traditionally features short speeches from the host city’s organising committee president and the IOC President, who formally declares the Games closed and calls the world’s youth to the next edition.
When did the Closing Ceremony Take Place?
The ceremony was held on Sunday 22 February 2026 in the evening local time, beginning at 20:00 CET. It followed the men’s ice hockey gold medal game earlier the same day and the women’s curling final, the last medal event of the Games.
Where was it Held?
The ceremony took place at the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre in Verona dating to around AD 30. The nearly 2,000 year old structure, one of the best preserved Roman arenas in the world, is normally used as an outdoor opera venue during summer months. Verona was chosen to host the closing ceremony at the bidding stage to showcase Italian cultural heritage alongside Milan and Cortina’s mountain setting. The venue is located some 150km from Milan and 200km from Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Ceremony Highlights
Titled Beauty in Action, the ceremony wove together opera, ballet, acrobatics and contemporary music with around 2,000 performers appearing on the amphitheatre’s stage. Italian opera took centre stage, with music from Verdi’s La Traviata and other operatic staples performed live. The show celebrated Italian heritage in art, cinema, food and fashion while honouring the athletes of the Games.
Parade flagbearers for the closing ceremony included hockey captain Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates for the United States, short track speed skaters Valerie Maltais and Steven Dubois for Canada, and biathlete Lisa Vittozzi and long track speed skater Davide Ghiotto for host nation Italy. Many delegations nominated their gold medallists from the Games.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry declared the Games closed and handed the Olympic flag to representatives of the French Alps 2030 organising committee, the next Winter Olympics hosts. Coventry had taken up the presidency in 2025 and Milano Cortina was her first Olympic Games in the role.
Twin Cauldrons
In a Winter Olympic first, two Olympic cauldrons were extinguished simultaneously. One burned at the Arena di Verona during the ceremony, while the second, located in Cortina d’Ampezzo, was extinguished at the same moment via live link. The twin cauldrons reflected the distributed nature of Milano Cortina 2026, with events spread across Milan, Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, Anterselva, Predazzo and Baselga di Pine.
Medal Table Summary
Team USA topped the final 2026 Winter Olympics medal table with 33 total medals including multiple golds across alpine skiing, figure skating and ice hockey. Norway again led the way in cross-country skiing and biathlon. Host nation Italy enjoyed a record Winter Olympics by total medals, propelled by strong performances in short track, speed skating, biathlon and alpine skiing.
Handover to French Alps 2030
The Olympic flag was received on behalf of French Alps 2030 following the traditional raising of the French flag and playing of La Marseillaise. A short artistic sequence previewed the 2030 Games, which will be staged across several sites in the French Alps including Nice, Briancon, Serre Chevalier and La Clusaz. French Alps 2030 will be the fourth Winter Olympics hosted by France after Chamonix 1924, Grenoble 1968 and Albertville 1992.
How to Watch (Replays)
Replays and highlights of the closing ceremony are available on olympics.com, NBC and Peacock in the United States, BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, CBC in Canada, Eurosport and Discovery+ across Europe, and RAI in Italy. The full ceremony is available on the official Olympics YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Milano Cortina 2026 closing ceremony held?
Sunday 22 February 2026 at the Arena di Verona, beginning at 20:00 CET.
Where was the closing ceremony held?
At the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre in the city of Verona in northern Italy.
What was the theme of the ceremony?
Beauty in Action, celebrating Italian opera, art and cultural heritage.
Who are the next Winter Olympics hosts?
French Alps 2030, awarded to France and spanning several sites across the French Alps.
Was this the first time two Olympic cauldrons were extinguished at once?
Yes. Milan and Cortina extinguished cauldrons simultaneously, a first at a Winter Olympic Games.