The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics concluded Sunday with Italy celebrating its highest-ever Winter Games medal tally of 30 medals, including 10 gold. The closing ceremony at Verona's ancient Arena marked the official handover to France for the 2030 Winter Games, which will follow a similar spread-out model across the Alps and Mediterranean coast.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry praised Italy's organizers for delivering "a new kind of winter games" that set high standards for future events. The Games featured 116 medal events across eight Olympic sports in 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering. Host nation Italy's performance united the country, with Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò telling athletes their success was fundamental to the Games' overall achievement.

The 2½-hour ceremony blended Italian cultural elements from lyric opera to contemporary pop, featuring performances by Achille Lauro and Roberto Bolle. The event concluded with the unprecedented extinguishing of flames at two cauldrons in Milan and Cortina, viewed via video link in Verona. With the Paralympics opening ceremony set for March 6 at the same venue, Italy's successful hosting ensures the Olympic movement's continued evolution across multiple host cities.