As fans all over prepare for the end of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games, the Closing Ceremony promises a breathtaking spectacle as the Olympians take their final bow in Verona.
The finish line is officially in sight as viewers all over the world prepare to bid farewell to the athletes after an exhilarating Winter Games chapter. For the first time in Olympic history, the 2026 Winter Games included not one but two Opening Ceremonies, one at the Arco della Pace in Milan and the other at the Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Jam-packed with Olympic excitement and powerhouse performances celebrating Italian culture, the Closing Ceremony on February 22 promises similar thrills.
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The Milan Cortina Opening Ceremonies set an electrifying tone for the 2026 Winter Games, and the Closing Ceremony in Verona is slated to deliver similar goosebumps as Olympians from all over the globe celebrate in the mythic Arena di Verona.
Where is the 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony being held?
The 2026 Winter Games Closing Ceremony will be held in Verona and hosted at the historic Arena di Verona, an ancient Roman amphitheatre and official UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built in 30 AD as the host of epic gladiator battles and nail-biting battle reenactments, the Arena di Verona has recently undergone a modern renovation ahead of its involvement in the 2026 Winter Games. Now officially renamed the Verona Olympic Arena, the venue was the third largest of its time after the Colosseum and Campania Amphitheatre, and has since become a beacon for countless legendary live events and performances.
Find yourself in Venice during the Closing Ceremony festivities? Get information about attending the Closing Ceremony here.
About the Arena di Verona: Past and Present
Built originally in 30 AD, the original structure of the Arena di Verona hosted ancient festivities such as gladiatorial battles and public ceremonies. During the Italian Renaissance, the venue was the host of many operatic performances, but the Arena di Verona cemented its place in entertainment history forever in the early 1900s after operatic performances were popularized thanks to legendary Italian opera tenor Giovanni Zenatello.
Groundbreaking operatic performances continued over the centuries and remain a cherished fixture of the Arena di Verona to this day. Each night, the Verona Arena is draped in colorful lights, creating a dazzling display within Verona’s stunning landscape.
About the revamped Verona Olympic Arena
Thousands of spectators will congregate to bear witness to the captivating Closing Ceremony, hosted in the fitting Verona Arena, the perfect embodiment of the cultural beauty of Italy’s past and present. While the venue is older than the Roman Colosseum, the Arena di Verona has undergone recent renovations that prioritized accessibility and safety tune-ups while meticulously preserving the historic landmark’s character. The Closing Ceremony’s theme, “Beauty in Action,” has inspired the spectacular renovation.
“We will portray beauty from a different perspective, linked to the great Italian culture of opera, sport, athletics, [as well as] the local area,” Closing Ceremony director Stefania Opipari revealed. “The Arena di Verona represents a great challenge and an unforgettable opportunity. It is a place full of emotions, stories, and energy, which forces us to imagine something different from the past.”
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The stage for the Closing Ceremony was built in the likeness of a water droplet as a nod to the element that fuels the Winter Games, as well as a reminder of the role climate change plays in the Winter Olympics.
“The main message will be the theme of sustainability of the planet,” Opipari shared. “Sustainability is not just a narrative theme, but an approach to the production of the ceremony. 80 percent of the stage will be made of wood, 90 percent of the lighting fixtures are LED, and our stage costumes are made from recycled materials or fabrics created for other uses.”
The Verona Arena will debut this new look on a global scale during the 2026 Winter Games, and fans couldn’t be more excited to light up the Verona skyline. Centuries of history have played out on the steps of the ancient venue, from show-stopping Tina Turner concerts to high-speed bicycle races of the Giro d’Italia, and now the venue will make history yet again as the host of the 2026 Winter Games Closing Ceremony.
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
Transport yourself to the Verona Olympic Arena as you watch the Closing Ceremony live on NBC and Peacock on Sunday, February 22, starting at 2:30 pm ET.