Winter Olympics 2026 Closing Ceremony: Everything you need to know
Sports Desk Aggregated content using Official IOC Content from Milano and Cortina,Italy/Posted 21 Febraury,2026
The Olympic Winter Games are set to end in style! Here’s your complete guide to the Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony, including when and where it starts, confirmed performers, the handover to the next Winter Olympic host, and how to watch the spectacle live.
By Will Imbo
After a little over two weeks of captivating winter sport action across northern Italy’s iconic venues, the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will come to an end this Sunday (22 February) with the Closing Ceremony.
While the magnificent Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium was the main stage for the Opening Ceremony on 6 February, the honour of hosting the final party of the Games goes to the historic Verona Olympic Arena.
It’s set to be a spectacular send-off in one of Italy’s most iconic settings. Read on for timings, what’s on the programme, and how to follow it live.
- Winter Olympics 2026: Opening Ceremony’s best moments and highlights
- Follow Milano Cortina 2026 action with our live blog
Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Closing Ceremony preparations as Verona hosts Milano Cortina 2026 showpiece
The Verona Arena, a 2,000-year-old historic amphitheatre, is preparing to host the final showpiece of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. The city, which was the setting for several of English playwright William Shakespeare’s most famous literary works, including Romeo and Juliet, will host a celebration of culture, music, sport, and humanity, titled “Beauty in Action”. Watch to find out more about what’s in store at the ancient monument on Sunday, 22nd February.
When is the Winter Olympics 2026 Closing Ceremony?
The Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday 22 February 2026, marking the official end of the Olympic Winter Games.
What time does the Closing Ceremony start?
The Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony is scheduled to begin at 20:30 local time (CET).
Where is the Winter Olympics 2026 Closing Ceremony being held?
The Ceremony will take place at the Verona Olympic Arena (also known as the Arena di Verona), one of Italy’s most iconic venues and a UNESCO World Heritage site
Built in the first century AD and older than the Colosseum, the Roman amphitheatre is renowned worldwide for its summer opera festival and has hosted concerts and major cultural events for decades.
In addition to staging the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games, the Verona Olympic Arena will also host the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games on 6 March.
Accatino: ‘A great party that no one will forget’
“The Closing Ceremony is a moment of awareness.”
These are the words of Alfredo Accatino, the artistic director of the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games and Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games.
“The athletes will be the real stars of the event,” Accatino explains. “It will begin with lots of colours and end with a party. Those who come to Verona will never forget it. It is a moment of veiled melancholy, because the big event is coming to an end, and with so many emotions.
”A show like this needs many ingredients. It has special effects, costumes, props, set design elements, videos… all this will lead to the creation of something never seen before,” he said.
There will be room for innovation, but with people at the forefront.
“Milano Cortina 2026 and Paris 2024 Olympics are the first to be born in an era of artificial intelligence,” he said.
“We will use it, but in a totally different way. As always, we have invested in technology that serves humanity. It’s a very humanistic approach, which lends itself very well.”
Sunset timelapse of the Olympic Flame in the Cauldron at Milano Cortina 2026
Milan is hosting a spectacular nightly light show around the Olympic Cauldron after sunset, and this timelapse video brings you closer to the action. The fire of the Olympic Flame is burning at the Arco della Pace in the Italian city. Olympics.com is the place to be for coverage of all the Games events, and check out the official Olympic YouTube account to watch more of the Cauldron and Flame at Milano Cortina 2026.
Who will host the next Winter Olympic Games?
The Olympic flag will be officially handed over during the Closing Ceremony to the host of the next Olympic Winter Games: French Alps 2030.
Following the traditional handover segment, we might see a first glimpse of what to expect when the Winter Games head to France in 2030.
Who will perform at the Closing Ceremony?
Italian singer-songwriter Achille Lauro, actor Benedetta Porcaroli and DJ/producer Gabry Ponte are among the first acts confirmed to take part in the Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony at the Verona Olympic Arena.
Additional performers and special guests are expected to be announced in the lead-up to the ceremony. Stay tuned to Olympics.com for the very latest.
