Where Are the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics? Inside the Historic Verona Arena That Closed the 2026 Winter Games

The question on millions of viewers' minds heading into the final weekend of the Milan Cortina Winter Games was a simple one: where are the closing ceremonies for the Olympics? The answer turned out to be one of the most breathtaking venues in sports and entertainment history. The 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony took place Sunday, February 22, at the Verona Olympic Arena in Verona, Italy — marking the first time in Olympic history that a closing ceremony was held inside a UNESCO World Heritage monument.

Where Is the Olympic Closing Ceremony? Verona, Italy

The historic Verona Arena hosted the evocative closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The grand finale wove together music, art, and the pure spirit of sport, celebrating unity and the enduring bonds between athletes and nations. Verona, the northern Italian city immortalized as the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, provided a backdrop unlike anything the Olympics had ever seen.

The city of Verona was chosen to host the ceremony even though no competition events took place there — the intention was for the closing ceremony to be held in a setting reminiscent of the ancient Olympic Games.

The Verona Olympic Arena: A 2,000-Year-Old Stage

Built in 30 AD, the ancient Roman amphitheatre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once home to gladiatorial contests. It was the third largest of its kind after the Colosseum and the Campania Amphitheatre, and has since become a beacon for legendary live events and performances.

The Roman amphitheatre — which regularly hosts concerts and the annual opera festival — was transformed for one night into the Verona Olympic Arena. It will be illuminated by stories of inclusion and passion, symbolically immersed in the beauty of the city and in a collective celebration that unites history, culture, and sports values.

Olympic Closing Ceremony Theme, Time, and Broadcast

The closing ceremony was titled "Beauty in Action" — a tribute to beauty in motion in all its forms, exploring how it lives in sport, is reflected in art, is nourished by human relationships, and manifests itself in the places that frame the Games.

Who Performed at the Olympics Closing Ceremony?

Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle, Italian DJ Gabry Ponte, Italian singer Achille Lauro, and actress and model Benedetta Porcaroli were among the featured performers at the closing ceremony. The night's biggest surprise came from American EDM group Major Lazer and frontman Diplo, whose performance had the arena and all the athletes on their feet dancing — a moment NBC commentators aptly described as a true party.

NBC's closing ceremony coverage was hosted by Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir, who led NBC Sports' Olympic figure skating commentary throughout the Milan Cortina Games.

Where Was the Olympics Opening Ceremony?

For those wondering about the full geographic scope of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: the opening ceremony was held on February 6, 2026 at Stadio San Siro in Milan, titled "Armonia" — meaning harmony. Two Olympic cauldrons were lit in both Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, a first in Games history. The closing ceremony's move to Verona extended the Games' cultural footprint across northern Italy in a deliberate and historic way.

What Comes Next After the Olympics Closing Ceremony?

The closing ceremony included the formal handover to the French Alps as the host region of the 2030 Winter Olympics. The Verona Olympic Arena itself is not done with Olympic duty — the arena will also host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games on March 6. The Paralympic Winter Games run from March 6–15, 2026, keeping Italy at the center of the world sporting stage for weeks to come.