Italy Bids Farewell to Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Italy wraps up the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with a closing ceremony at Verona's ancient Arena, celebrating Italian art and sporting achievements.
“The ceremony in the Arena will certainly be something unprecedented in Olympic history...“
Italy wrapped up the Winter Olympics with a stunning closing ceremony at the ancient Verona Arena, showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage. The event, titled “Beauty in Action,” featured a breathtaking performance by Italian ballet dancer Roberto Bolle, celebrating Italian art and sporting achievements.
The ceremony was a testament to Italy's successful hosting of the Games, with a record medal haul and positive feedback from athletes. The event also marked the handover of the Olympic flag to the French Alps, host of the 2030 Winter Olympics
The opening video sequence featured Deborah Compagnoni, an Olympic champion from the 1990s, wearing an evening dress and holding her skis.
The Games, co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, are spread across northern Italy and have been praised as “incredible“ by IOC President Kirsty Coventry. Italy's record medal haul has added to the excitement.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was beaming with pride in Verona, praising the Olympics for bringing unforgettable emotions and a sense of national pride. “The Olympics have given us unforgettable emotions and a sense of pride that will remain with Italy for a long time to come,“ she wrote on X, adding that the smooth running had “brought prestige to the entire nation.“
The closing ceremony, held at the ancient Verona Arena, was a grand celebration of Italian art and sporting achievement, featuring performances by Roberto Bolle, Achille Lauro, and Gabry Ponte.
Dramatic Setting
The ceremony is at Verona's iconic Roman amphitheatre, famous for opera, pop concerts, and as the backdrop for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Security was tight around Verona's 2,000-year-old Arena, with barriers limiting access and a helicopter overhead. Tourists found the main Piazza Bra restricted.
Hundreds protested in Verona hours before the Olympics closing ceremony, citing housing costs and environmental concerns linked to the Winter Games. The “Olympics? No thanks” rally, organized by university groups and associations, opposed the event's impact on forests, land, and social inequality.
Security was tight around Verona's 2,000-year-old Arena, with barriers limiting access and a helicopter overhead. Tourists found the main Piazza Bra restricted. Meanwhile, hundreds protested in Verona hours before the Olympics closing ceremony, citing housing costs and environmental concerns linked to the Winter Games.
Party Time
Athletes relaxed as the closing ceremony kicked off with Italian singer Achille Lauro and DJ Gabry Ponte getting the party going. Tickets ranged from 950 euros ($1,120) to 2,900 euros, and the chilly evening was rain-free.
“The ceremony in the Arena will certainly be something unprecedented in Olympic history,” Damiano Tommasi, mayor of Verona, and a former Hellas Verona and AS Roma soccer player, said.
“Personally, it motivates me to work towards planning a bid for the Summer Games in Italy, which have been missing for far too long,” he a.Rome hosted the Olympics in 1960, and the Italian capital dropped its bid for the 2024 Games, which were ultimately held in Paris.
Kudos All Around
The Milan-Cortina Games, with events spread across northern Italy, have received rave reviews from athletes, marking a successful new approach.
“I would say ... to Italy, I think that they did an absolutely fantastic job hosting the Olympics,” said US freestyle skier Christopher Lillis, praising the venues, food and friendly atmosphere.
Now gondolas are rising from the mist 🤩
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 22, 2026
We melt from the action of the Dolomites into the famed flowing canals of Venice 💚🤍❤️
💻 Join the show 👉 https://t.co/XeYzw5pd0S#MilanoCortina2026 | #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/rV4IUGYNlS
The Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, which have been burning since the Games opened on February 6, will be extinguished on Sunday. However, they'll be reignited for the Paralympics, taking place from March 6-15.
The closing ceremony, happening at Verona's ancient Arena, will feature performances celebrating Italian culture and art, including Italian singer Achille Lauro and ballet dancer Roberto Bolle. After the ceremony, the Olympic flag will be handed over to France, host of the 2030 Winter Games.
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