What time is the Winter Olympics closing ceremony? TV schedule, channel to watch 2026 Milan Cortina Games end

After three exhilarating weeks of competition across the Italian Alps and Milan’s metropolitan arenas, the 2026 Winter Olympics will officially draw to a close on Sunday, Feb. 22, with a two-and-a-half-hour celebration beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. The pageantry will unfold inside Verona’s Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater dating to 30 AD, where athletes from the record 93 participating nations will take a final bow before a global television audience.

NBC will carry the ceremony live with the network’s signature figure-skating commentary team—Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir—guiding viewers through the proceedings. Cord-cutters can stream every moment commercial-free on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s subscription platform that also houses live Premier League soccer, Big Ten football, NBA action and PGA Tour coverage. New users can sample the service starting at $10.99 per month and cancel anytime. DIRECTV Stream, which includes NBC in most markets, offers another viewing option and extends a free trial to first-time subscribers.

Flag-bearing honors for the United States will rest in the hands of two five-time Olympians: hockey gold medalist Hilary Knight and ice dance champion Evan Bates. The pair were chosen in a vote of Team USA peers, marking the first occasion American athletes will share the responsibility at a Winter Games closing ceremony.

The artistic program, built around the theme “Beauty in Action,” promises a marriage of Italian culture, sport and spectacle. Internationally acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle, electronic-music pioneer Gabry Ponte and genre-blending singer Achille Lauro are confirmed performers, each selected to highlight the connection between Italy’s mountainous landscapes and its historic cities.

With the final medals already decided, the ceremony will pivot from competition to commemoration, celebrating the athletic triumphs witnessed in everything from alpine skiing and snowboarding to curling and figure skating. Viewers can expect the traditional parade of nations, the handover of the Olympic flag to the next host city, and a vibrant curtain-closing set designed to leave audiences with a lasting image of Italian creativity and unity.