From the opening ceremony on February 6 to now, the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics have felt like a dream in the best possible way. The event has brought two weeks of brilliance, heartbreak and redemption, and all of it has unfolded against that gorgeous Italian backdrop that almost doesn’t look real on TV. So, when do the Olympics end?
From the start, these Games have delivered. Snowboarders launching themselves into tricks that don’t seem physically possible. Figure skaters landing quad-axels that make your stomach drop before your brain can even processes what just happened. Every night felt like someone rewriting what human limit actually means.
NBC’s Milan Cortina team has been there for all of it, stitching together the slow-motion replays and the sideline tears and the family reactions back home. You start watching for one event and suddenly it’s midnight and you’re emotionally invested in a sport you’d never even heard of before.
That’s the magic of it. So, the closing ceremony is a special moment, and that goes beyond the fireworks and flag handoffs. It’s the final lap. The last look at these athletes as Olympians, at least for now. It’s the hug in the tunnel and the last wave to the crowd. It’s the moment where it all shifts from present tense to memory.
When Do the Olympics End?
The final day of the 2026 Winter Olympics is on Sunday, February 22, and that’s when the closing ceremony takes place.
The Olympic Winter Games won’t be back return until 2030, so this is your last chance to watch the action for four full years. Of course, the Summer Olympics are set for Los Angeles in 2028, so at least there’s that on the way.
The 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 22, with coverage airing live on NBC and Peacock. There will also be a special, rebroadcast of the event starting at 5 p.m. ET.
“all great things come to an end, and these Olympians deserve a mighty celebration for their mind-boggling skill,” NBC states on its official website. “After not one but two spectacular Opening Ceremonies in Milan and Cortina, the world will now turn its eyes to Verona, Italy’s ‘City of Love,’ for the Closing Ceremony.”
They add, “Hosted in the stunning city of Verona at the Arena di Verona, a World Heritage Site, the ancient venue will transform into a mind-blowing spectacle in honor of the festivities.”
What Should You Expect at the 2026 Closing Ceremony?
The Olympics committee promises spectacle and drama at the closing ceremony.
“The show will reveal to the world the creativity, ingenuity, and passion that define our country. It will be a moment to celebrate not only athletic excellence, but also Italian cultural identity and innovation,” the Olympics’ official website states. These performances will not only “feature a fusion of opera, music, dance, cinema, design, and technology,” but also bring a performance from international ballet dancer Roberto Bolle.
Other performers lined up for the event include Italian DJ and producer Gabry Ponte, Verona-born pop icon Achille Lauro and Italian model and actress Benedetta Porcaroli.
When Do the Olympics End?