The curtain fell on the 2026 Winter Olympics after 17 days of competition, celebration and unforgettable performances, as the closing ceremony lit up the historic Arena di Verona in northern Italy. The ancient Roman amphitheatre, transformed into a glowing stage of music and light, provided a dramatic backdrop for the official end of the Milano-Cortina Games.
Blending Italian heritage with Olympic tradition, the ceremony opened with a tribute to opera. An orchestra filled the arena with sweeping melodies as cinematic visuals highlighted Verona’s underground tunnels and centuries-old architecture. The setting reinforced the Games’ unique identity — rooted in history yet globally modern in spectacle.
A Farewell After 17 Days of Competition
Unlike the opening ceremony, which was staged across multiple venues including Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the closing celebration was held solely in Verona. Fewer athletes marched in comparison to opening night, as many had already departed after completing their events.
The symbolic highlight came as the Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina were extinguished. The Olympic flag was lowered and officially handed over to France, host of the 2030 Winter Games — marking a transition from one chapter of Olympic history to the next.
Canada’s Flag Bearers Take Centre Stage
Canada closed the Games with pride. Speed skating champions Valérie Maltais and Steven Dubois carried the maple leaf during the athletes’ procession. Both athletes delivered standout performances in Italy and now hold five Olympic medals each in their decorated careers.
Maltais, competing in her fifth and final Olympics, secured medals in long-track events, while Dubois captured gold in the men’s 500-metre short track and added relay silver to his haul. Their selection as flag bearers symbolized Canada’s strength on the ice throughout the Games.
Canada finished Milano-Cortina 2026 with 21 medals — five gold, seven silver and nine bronze, placing the country among the leading nations in winter sport once again.
Milano-Cortina 2026 By the Numbers
The scale of the Games underscored their global impact:
2,900 athletes competed across 16 disciplines and 116 events, with a total of 735 medals awarded. More than 18,000 volunteers supported operations throughout the 17-day spectacle.
From freestyle skiing and curling to short-track and long-track speed skating, the competition delivered record-breaking performances and emotional podium moments.
A Night of Italian Culture and Celebration
The ceremony featured performances from leading Italian artists, combining traditional musical influences with modern pop and electronic sounds. As fireworks illuminated the Verona skyline, athletes from around the world celebrated together — rivalries replaced by unity in a shared Olympic farewell.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be remembered not only for medal counts and historic victories, but for Italy’s ability to merge cultural heritage with global sporting excellence. The Arena di Verona, nearly two millennia old, stood as a powerful symbol of continuity — a reminder that while each Games concludes, the Olympic spirit endures.
Looking Ahead
With the flame extinguished, attention now shifts to the next host nation. France will prepare to welcome the world in 2030, continuing the Olympic tradition of unity, excellence and international celebration.
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