Winter Olympics Close in Verona Arena, Pass Torch to France

The Milan-Cortina Games concluded on Sunday with the twin flames in the co-host cities extinguished.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina came to a close on Sunday as the twin flames in the co-host cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo were extinguished, marking the end of the games. The ceremony took place at the Arena di Verona, a historic Roman amphitheater.

Why it matters

The Winter Olympics are a major international sporting event that showcases the world's best winter athletes. The closing ceremony in Verona symbolizes the end of these games and the passing of the torch to the next host country, France, which will hold the 2030 Winter Olympics.

The details

The closing ceremony featured performances by Italian artists and the traditional handover to the next host nation. The Olympic flag was passed from Milan-Cortina 2026 organizers to representatives from the 2030 Winter Olympics in France.

  • The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina concluded on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • The closing ceremony took place at the Arena di Verona.

The players

Milan-Cortina 2026

The organizing committee for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which were co-hosted by the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

France

The host country for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

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What’s next

The 2030 Winter Olympics will be held in France, marking the first time the Winter Games have been hosted in that country since 1992.

The takeaway

The closing of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Verona's historic arena represents the successful conclusion of Italy's first time hosting the Winter Games, paving the way for France to take on the challenge of hosting the 2030 edition.