Milano Cortina 2026 announces vision and artists of Opening and Closing Ceremonies

With 50 days to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the Organising Committee unveiled the titles, creative visions and first talents of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

During an event on 15 January in Venice, Milano Cortina 2026 Ceremonies Director Maria Laura Iascone announced the creative themes of the ceremonies, together with Alfredo Accatino and Angelo Bonello, who will bring the spectacle to people in Italy and around the world.

The Opening Ceremony: “Life in Motion”

The Opening Ceremony on 6 March will take place at the Arena di Verona and will mark the first time a Paralympic Ceremony is held in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The title of the Ceremony is “Life in Motion,” a tribute to life as change and transformation, inspired by the language of art and its unique ability to interpret the ever‑changing contemporary reality. This approach will redefine the concept of disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.

In preparation for this historic event, EUR 20 million has been invested to enhance accessibility throughout Verona, ensuring an inclusive experience for all. This commitment goes beyond the Ceremony, representing a concrete step toward a future in which culture and sport are increasingly accessible to everyone.

The International Paralympic Committee and Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 have worked closely with National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and the IPC Athletes’ Council to guarantee meaningful athlete engagement, both remotely and in person, throughout the design and planning of the Ceremony.

The Ceremony will feature Italian and international artists. Stewart Copeland, legendary drummer of The Police and a composer who has inspired generations, and Meduza, the celebrated trio of music producers and symbols of Italian house music, will headline the Ceremony at the historic venue.

Contemporary art will play a major role, with tributes to Jago, one of Italy’s most internationally renowned sculptors, and Emilio Isgrò, artist, poet, novelist and playwright who revolutionised global art in the second half of the 20th century with his “erasures.”

Alfredo Accatino, Artistic Director of the Paralympic Ceremony and President of Filmmaster, said, “A Paralympic Ceremony is an extraordinary opportunity for those who experience it live and for those who organise it. It is a celebration of athletes and sport, but it also allows us to outline a process of cultural growth necessary to define a new way of living, respecting differences and identities, not just disabilities. We aimed for something positive, joyful, courageous, radical and engaging. Through art, we believe we have succeeded.”

Play a part in the Opening Ceremony

In addition to the strong involvement of the athletes, the public will also play a leading role in the Opening Ceremony. Starting 15 January, the initiative “Volare Milano Cortina 2026” has been launched. The Italian song “Nel blu dipinto di blu” by Domenico Modugno will be played as the finale of the Ceremony, bringing together the voices of people singing from around the world.

Through the initiative, the Organising Committee will collect contributions from the public that could be used in the final song.

The Closing Ceremony: “Italian Souvenir”

Memories serve as a vehicle for beauty, emotion and shared experiences capable of uniting the world; this is the concept behind “Italian Souvenir,” the creative theme of the Closing Ceremony at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

After days of incredible sport, the Closing Ceremony on 15 March will take athletes, volunteers and fans on a journey that captures the intense emotions of the Games. The Ceremony will offer a snapshot of a once‑in‑a‑lifetime adventure, taking the form of a large interactive album of memories, alternating between snapshots of unforgettable sporting successes and postcards of the beauty of the Italian regions that hosted the competitions.

Spectacular images will be cherished as the Paralympic flag is handed from Milano Cortina 2026 to French Alpes 2030.

During the press conference in Venice, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 revealed the first talents for the Closing Ceremony. Arisa, one of the most distinctive voices in Italian music, will perform on stage at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. With her uniqueness and interpretative intensity, she has also won over international audiences and earned prestigious awards such as the Nastro d'Argento with “Canta ancora” for Best Original Song.

Francesco Paolo Conticello, who will lead the creative team for the Closing Ceremony, said: “This Closing Ceremony not only marks the end of a competition; it is the solemn final act of the entire Milano Cortina 2026 journey. With G2–Casta Diva Group, along with Angelo Bonello as Artistic Director and Show Director, we wanted to create a great show to recount and celebrate all those unforgettable memories we will share—through several challenges, countless rounds of applause and infinite wonder.

“It will be the moment when Italy officially bids farewell to the world, turning the final salute into an explosion of art and beauty. A universal embrace that starts from our mountains and our cities, leaving the world with a true Italian souvenir.”

The teams behind the Opening and Closing Ceremonies

The creative team for the Opening Ceremony, led by Artistic Director and Filmmaster President Alfredo Accatino, includes:

• Adriano Martella, Head of Creative at Filmmaster and Creative Director for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony

• Marco Boarino, Show Director for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony

The creative team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony, led by Francesco Paolo Conticello, President and CEO of G2 Eventi – Casta Diva Group, includes:

• Angelo Bonello – Artistic Director and Show Director

• Francesca Formisano – Music Composer

A once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity

The Paralympic Winter Games, scheduled from 6 to 15 March, will mark a historic moment for the Paralympic Movement, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Winter Paralympics held in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, and the 20th anniversary of Torino 2006.

Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org