The Olympic spirit will bid farewell to Italy wrapped in art, emotion, and movement. The Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee has revealed that the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games will be titled “Beauty in Action,” a tribute to the creative soul of the host nation. Scheduled for February 22, 2026, the event will take place at the historic Olympic Stadium in Verona, transforming one of Europe’s most iconic venues into a meeting point for sport, culture, and emotion.
The announcement not only unveiled the central theme but also introduced the creative team and the first confirmed artist: Roberto Bolle, the renowned ballet dancer who will bring his sensitivity and mastery to the show. Under the direction of Alfredo Accatino, Verona is preparing for a night where history, technology, and human expression will intertwine in a celebration that promises to transcend beyond the closing of the Games.
A celebration of Italian spirit and creativity
The ceremony will be a tribute to beauty in motion and to the connection between the mountains and cities that shape the Italian landscape. Inspired by opera, dance, cinema, and design, “Beauty in Action” seeks to merge tradition and innovation into a sensory experience that captures the country’s essence. “Milano Cortina 2026 has once again chosen to celebrate Italian excellence and promote its cultural heritage,” said Giovanni Malagò, president of the Organizing Committee, while announcing that the ceremony will take place in the Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to Maria Laura Iascone, director of ceremonies, the concept will not only showcase beauty: “it will also be experienced, shared, and felt.” The aim is for every art form —music, dance, architecture— to come together in a choreography that evokes emotion and connects body and soul. In the words of its creators, it will be a living story that the audience will feel as their own.
Artists, set design, and cultural legacy
The show will feature acclaimed Italian artists contributing their talent both on stage and behind the scenes. Alongside Bolle, the creative team led by Accatino includes Adriano Martella (creative direction), Stefania Opipari (show direction), Vittorio Cosma and Michele Braga (music direction), and Claudio Santucci (set design). “It will be a performance that combines technology and emotion,” said Accatino, emphasizing the collaborative effort that will bring the Games’ closing to life.
The stage, inspired by a drop of water, will pay homage to the essential element of winter sports and will transform the Arena into a grand Italian square where athletes, art, and music converge. The celebration will extend beyond the stadium, reaching Piazza Bra and the Verona Philharmonic Theatre, where the Arena’s choir and orchestra will accompany the conclusion of an Olympic edition that will leave a profound cultural mark on the heart of Italy.
