After weeks of edge-of-your-seat finishes, emotional podiums, and larger-than-life performances that amazed audiences far and wide, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will close with a final global celebration.
The Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony represents much more than just a goodbye; it’s the moment when competition makes way for reflection and unity, a must-watch for anyone rooting for these winter Olympians. After the Winter Games kicked off with incredible duo Opening Ceremonies in Milan and Cortina, the world will turn to Italy’s “City of Love,” Verona, for an epic finale. The Closing Ceremony promises a familiar mix of cultural celebration and breathtaking spectacle fitting for some of the world’s top athletes as the final medals are awarded, records are rewritten, and unforgettable moments are etched into Olympic history forever.
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But what can viewers and spectators expect from the 2026 Winter Games Closing Ceremony, and how will it work? Learn more about what to expect from the Milan Cortina Olympics Closing Ceremony — airing February 22 on NBC and Peacock — below.
What happens during the Olympics Closing Ceremony?
While every Olympic Closing Ceremony reflects the host nation’s culture and honors the unity of sport, there’s a consistent structure that appears during the majority of Games. The details may vary, but the Closing Ceremonies will typically feature elements such as the parade of athletes, final speeches and awards, special performances, and the traditional handover ceremony. Last but certainly not least, the festivities will conclude with the extinguishing of the Olympic flame. The Closing Ceremony will last around two and a half hours.
The Olympians walk together in the Parade of Athletes
Unlike the Opening Ceremony’s formal march by nation, the Closing Ceremony begins with a far more relaxed, symbolic entrance as the Olympians enter not by country, but together “en masse in no particular order,” according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As the athletes mingle among the nations, the parade becomes a celebration of unity and their shared experience during the Winter Games. The tradition dates back to the Melbourne 1956 Summer Olympics and has remained a defining feature ever since as a heartwarming reminder that the Games are built on connection.
After the Olympians join the festivities, they sit among each other to enjoy the show and final speeches. After weeks defined by pressure, the Closing Ceremony is all about celebration, long-awaited relaxation, and camaraderie.
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The passing of the Olympic Flag
Closing Ceremonies are always packed with spectacle, but few traditions carry more weight than the lowering of the Olympic flag. In a ritual rooted in Olympic tradition, the flag is formally passed from the current host region to the next, marking the official transition of the Games. It’s a brief segment, but it carries enormous weight as Milan and Cortina pass the baton to the host region of the 2030 Winter Games, the French Alps.
The Closing Ceremony’s theme “Beauty in Action” promises spell-binding performances
Aside from the Closing Ceremony’s Olympic highlights and deep-rooted traditions, the athletes and spectators alike also get to enjoy an energizing lineup of performances. The theme for Milan Cortina is “Beauty in Action,” and promises a celebration of Italian heritage and sports camaraderie. Inspired by Italy’s enormous influence on art and culture, the show will include a “fusion of opera, music, dance, cinema, design and technology.”
Some of the Italian artists and performers making their way to the 2026 Closing Ceremony include international ballet icon Roberto Bolle, Eiffel 65 founder and Italian DJ Gabry Ponte, renowned Verona-born singer Achille Lauro, and Italian actress and model Benedetta Porcaroli. These stars are slated to ignite the night and create a dazzling display beneath the Verona skyline in honor of all of the Olympic achievements.
The extinguishing of the Olympic Flame
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the Closing Ceremony is the extinguishing of the Olympic torch, and this year, the tradition will work a little differently. The Milan Cortina Olympics made history as the first-ever Games to light not one but two Olympic torches to represent the constant dialogue between the two iconic host regions. Since the dramatic lighting at the Opening Ceremonies, the cauldrons have served as a constant presence throughout the Winter Games, so viewers can expect double the drama as the Olympic torches are “extinguished in perfect synchrony,” according to Olympics.com. Watching the flames go dark is the symbolic moment when the competition is over, Olympians can reflect, and the Milan-Cortina chapter is closed.
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
Don’t miss the epic conclusion to the Winter Games by watching the 2026 Olympic Closing Ceremony on Sunday, February 22, with live coverage starting at 2:30 pm ET on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.