Beauty in Action: details announced for Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony

06 November 2025 – The Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee has revealed “Beauty in Action” as the title of the Olympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony, which will take place at Verona Olympic Arena on 22 February 2026.

The Organising Committee also introduced the creative team behind the ceremony, as well as the first performer involved in the show: acclaimed international ballet dancer Roberto Bolle.

The Closing Ceremony will take place inside a World Heritage Site, transforming the historic Roman amphitheatre of Verona into a spectacular stage and leaving a rich cultural legacy for the city.

A celebration of Italian spirit and creativity

The theme for the Closing Ceremony is a tribute to beauty in motion in all its forms, and reflects the strong connection between mountains and cities.

The show will be inspired by Italian culture and art, and will feature a fusion of opera, music, dance, cinema, design and technology. It will bring together tradition and innovation while celebrating the creative ability of Italians to transform aesthetics into emotion.

“Milano Cortina 2026 has chosen, once again, to celebrate Italian excellence and promote Italian cultural heritage,” said Organising Committee President Giovanni Malagò. He added: “…[The] Olympic ceremony will be held at a World Heritage Site: the Arena di Verona. An eternal stage where history embraces the future, at an event that combines sport, art and culture in a celebration of Italian beauty.”

Milano Cortina 2026 Ceremonies Director Maria Laura Iascone added: “With Beauty in Action, every language, such as dance, music, cinema and architecture, becomes part of a unified choreography. Beauty will not only be shown; it will also be experienced, shared and breathed in. We would like the public to feel part of a story that combines emotions, body and soul.”

Which talent will be on stage and operating behind the scenes?

The Closing Ceremony will involve Italian artists and performers who will shine both on stage and behind the scenes. As well as Bolle, who will bring his ballet mastery to the stage, a creative team for the Closing Ceremony has been announced, including:

• Adriano Martella, Creative Director
• Stefania Opipari, Show Director
• Stefano Ciammitti, Costume Designer  
• Vittorio Cosma, Music Director  
• Michele Braga, Music Director  
• Claudio Santucci, Set Designer

The organisers also presented a rendering of the stage, which is inspired by a drop of water. This tribute to water, which is essential for winter sports, will see the stage transformed into a lively Italian square, with athletes from different countries and winter sports at the centre of the shared celebration.

The Closing Ceremony will also expand beyond the arena itself, reaching Piazza Bra and the Verona Philharmonic Theatre, where the choir and orchestra of the Arena di Verona will perform.  

The Closing Ceremony details follow the announcement in October that the Opening Ceremony, set to take place at San Siro Stadium in Milan on 6 February 2026, will be entitled “Harmony” (Armonia).