The 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony, scheduled for February 23 (Korean time), will be held at the Verona Arena, a landmark that dates back to the Roman Empire and was once the site of gladiatorial combat. This historical venue has also served various purposes over the centuries, including bullfighting and theatrical performances, and continues to host summer opera festivals today. The choice of this location for the ceremony is seen as significant, representing the closing of one chapter and the opening of another, dramatically transforming from a site of beast hunts in ancient Rome to a platform advocating for animal welfare and climate initiatives.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the final act of the ceremony, the extinguishing of the Olympic flame, will be carried out with a light show instead of fireworks to promote wildlife protection. The stage design will mimic water droplets, symbolically linking the mountainous venues of Milan and Verona as well as delivering a message about the reformation of the Winter Olympics in response to climate change. Additionally, the ceremony will feature performances by renowned Italian artists, including ballerino Roberto Bolle, singer Achille Lauro, and DJ Gabry Ponte, with Bolle presenting a performance titled 'Moving Beauty' alongside around 350 volunteers, emphasizing the dynamic nature of beauty rather than a static form.

Alfredo Acatino, who is directing the closing ceremony, expressed in an AP interview that beauty cannot be fixed in time, as the ancient Verona Arena embodies a living, evolving history. He aims to convey messages about the beauty of change in Italy, the moving beauty of sports, and the beauty found in nature. This momentous ceremony is expected to attract a total of 12,000 attendees, including 1,500 athletes, and will also precede the opening of the Winter Paralympics on March 7, hosted at the same venue.