The closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics took place on Sunday, February 22nd, at the Verona Arena, celebrating Italian culture and marking the handover to France for the 2030 Games. The event featured a parade of athletes, performances by Italian artists like Achille Lauro and Benedetta Porcaroli, and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame. The French delegation, having achieved a record 23 medals, including 8 gold, was prominently featured, with Mathis Desloges and Lou Jeanmonnot serving as flag bearers. Despite a protest against the Games in Verona, the ceremony concluded with a vibrant display of music, dance, and a symbolic passing of the Olympic spirit to the upcoming French hosts.