It wouldn’t be an Olympics without a party to close things out.
The Closing Ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics was Sunday at Verona Arena, and it celebrated Italian culture, history, music and art while recognizing the achievements of all the athletes who competed during the past two-plus weeks.
And, as per tradition, it handed over the Games to the next location for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.
“Through a tapestry of music, art, and storytelling, the show will reveal to the world the creativity, ingenuity, and passion that define our country,” the Olympic website explained. “It will be a moment to celebrate not only athletic excellence, but also Italian cultural identity and innovation.”
Fittingly, Italy’s history was under the spotlight right from the start with an opera performance before the flag bearers from each country entered Verona Arena, which is older than the famous Colosseum in Rome.
The United States flag bearers were hockey star Hilary Knight and figure skater Evan Bates, who were chosen by fellow American athletes. Knight helped lead the Americans to the gold in women’s hockey, while Bates captured a gold in the team figure skating event and a silver in the ice dance alongside skating partner and wife Madison Chock.
Other highlights included Italy’s 1994 cross-country skiing 4×10 km relay championship team carrying the Olympic flame into the historic arena, recognition of the people of Italy with projections on the stage and fireworks illuminating the night sky before the athletes entered.
Those athletes were honored with a performance from dancers and aerialists recognizing their hard work and training, and many of them opened up about their Olympic journey:
Perhaps no athletes were more under the spotlight than those who finished on the podium in the women’s and men’s 50km mass start cross-country skiing events, as they held their medal ceremony on the stage.
That meant honoring record-setter Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway:
Other performances included a tribute to the environment and water that made the Games possible, the Greek national anthem in recognition of where the Olympics originated, the playing of the Olympic anthem and a handover to France.
It all culminated in the extinguishing of the Olympic flame and one more party with music, fireworks and dancing as the athletes celebrated their accomplishments that have defined the international sporting world for the past two weeks.