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ITALY – ITALIAN SOUVENIR – AN EXPLOSION OF LIGHT, ART AND INCLUSION AT THE GRAND FINALE OF THE MILANO CORTINA 2026 WINTER GAMES: G2 EVENTI (CASTA DIVA GROUP) DELIVERS A MEMORABLE PARALYMPIC CLOSING CEREMONY
The event, held on 15 March at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, featured a sequence of artistic performances, institutional moments and visual contributions designed to highlight the value of sport as a tool for inclusion and overcoming limits, bidding farewell to Milano Cortina 2026 with a spectacular “postcard” destined to remain in the audience’s memory.
With a spectacular ceremony at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games came to a close, after weeks during which competitions, stories of sport and a powerful message of inclusion placed Italy in the global spotlight.
Bringing the closing ceremony to life on 15 March was the international communication group Casta Diva Group, through its subsidiary G2 Eventi, which staged a large-scale show of art and light titled “Italian Souvenir.” Conceived by Angelo Bonello and Francesco Paolo Conticello, the concept evokes a “collector’s postcard” to preserve in a memory album – the central theme of the event and a vehicle for beauty, emotion and shared memories.
An explosion of light and art marked the final farewell to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, representing Casta Diva Group’s debut in the world of major celebratory events with a show designed to leave audiences with a lasting memory. Images of athletes and snapshots of the Italian landscapes that hosted the competitions provided the backdrop for the handover of the Paralympic flag from Milano Cortina 2026 to the French Alps 2030.
On stage, artistic performances, institutional moments and visual storytelling alternated throughout the show, illustrating the value of sport as a tool for inclusion and for overcoming barriers, in a performance where the distinction between ability and disability dissolved.
The Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium became the setting for a visual and sensory journey, where iconic elements such as the snow globe and the postcard were transformed into spectacular stage installations.
Among the special guests performing live was Arisa, one of the most distinctive voices in Italian music. After performing the Milano Cortina 2026 song “Fino all’alba” at the Sanremo Festival 2022, celebrating Italy’s bid for the Winter Games, she returned to the stage to give voice to the grand finale of this unforgettable edition.
The ceremony, which captivated audiences around the world, was made possible thanks to the extensive work of the entire Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, from CEO Andrea Varnier to Ceremonies Director Maria Laura Iascone, and every member of the Foundation’s team.
THE STORY OF THE CEREMONY
The ceremony opened with a powerful performance by Dergin Tokmak, a performer from Cirque du Soleil, whose solo act expressed the essence of the Paralympic spirit on stage. It symbolized a humanity that never gives up, but that transforms imperfections into sources of light.
In the silence of the arena, Sofia Tansella, representing the new generations, entered the stage and encountered the athlete in a moment suspended between past and future. The lighting of illuminated crutches created a striking visual tableau where lights, choreography and music traced symbols of sport and inclusion.
The scene then evolved into a metaphor of climbing, with luminous ropes and moving bodies telling the story of connection and teamwork.
The result was a large immersive light-art installation, culminating in a glowing image formed by luminous ropes that recreated the Italian tricolour in the darkness, seamlessly leading into the first institutional moment of the ceremony: the entrance of the Italian flag, carried by six athletes and accompanied by Paralympic medallists. The Carabinieri, in full ceremonial uniform, received the flag while the arena resonated with Arisa’s powerful voice singing the Italian national anthem.
Following an emotional video recounting the achievements of the Games, the traditional Parade of Nations began. Athletes marched into the arena guided by the mascots and volunteers – the operational heart of the event – who were celebrated and thanked for their invaluable contribution.
HERITAGE: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ALPINE LANDSCAPE
The second segment of the ceremony, titled Heritage, was a visual and musical journey through the Alpine landscape. The cello of Formisanoff, the artist who composed the soundtrack for the event, guided the audience from the peaks of the mountains to the winter landscapes of the Dolomites.
Dozens of performers entered the stage carrying scenic cubes that transformed into ice, snow, paths and mountain shelters, evoking the life of Alpine communities – a landscape constantly changing, just like the athletes’ journey toward their own summit.
The choreography by Thomas Signorelli shifted perspective: bodies dissolved into fluid movements forming geometric and kaleidoscopic shapes. Enchanting the audience within this choreography was rhythmic gymnast Giorgia Greco, a perfect embodiment of the Games’ message – the ability to transform disability into pure artistic expression.
THE FINAL “POSTCARD”
In the finale, the snowflake symbol, emblem of the Paralympic journey, returned. Before the audience’s eyes a large scenic mountain emerged – not only a peak to conquer but also a symbol of the transformation of limits into horizons.
The image then crystallized into a “postcard”, a scenic tableau conceived by set designer Fabio Antinori, capturing the landscape of Cortina d’Ampezzo as one of the most precious souvenirs of the Games.
The Alpini, in full ceremonial uniform, entered the arena to lower the Paralympic flag while the Paralympic anthem played. Official speeches followed from Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, and Giovanni Malagò, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation.
Malagò declared:
“The Paralympic closing ceremony embodies the same spirit that defined all our Games. The flame of Milano Cortina 2026 has shone as a beacon of unity in a world threatened by darkness and division. In a stadium rich in charm and tradition, renovated for the occasion, the curtain falls on the competitions – but certainly not on their meaning, nor on the legacy we leave to Italy and to the Olympic and Paralympic movement.”
THE SOUVENIR
The third and final segment of the ceremony was dedicated to the concept of the souvenir. Through mist and light, a large glowing sphere appeared – a scenic snow globe designed by set designer Cristian Taraborrelli.
Inside the sphere coexisted two symbols: the Milan Cathedral (Duomo) and the Dolomites.
Drawn by the light, Sofia returned to the stage. The young girl, protagonist of the opening video of the ceremony, approached the sphere and blew gently on the flame.
One by one, the sparks of the Paralympic flame went out. Finally, the two braziers of Milan and Cortina were extinguished.
The arena then came alive with the concert of Planet Funk, pioneers of Italian electronic music worldwide. Music, light and rhythm accompanied the last postcard of this sporting adventure.
A collective farewell filled with emotion echoed through the arena:
“Ciao, Cortina.”
The most precious souvenir of these Games: the shared experience of a world that, for a few weeks, chose to see sport as the place where every limit can become a possibility.
The event was designed according to the highest standards of accessibility and hospitality, confirming the commitment of G2 Eventi and the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation to promoting inclusion as a fundamental value of global sport.
This extraordinary result was made possible by the collective intelligence of many different professions. The G2 Eventi – Casta Diva Group team, composed of 18 professionals, was led by Francesco Paolo Conticello, President and CEO of G2 Eventi – Casta Diva Group and Creative Director of the event, together with Angelo Bonello, Artistic Director and Show Director.
The team also included:
Fabrizio Minasi (Head of Production), Luca Pancaldi (Executive Producer), Cristian Taraborrelli (Content Supervisor & Show Caller), Matteo Catalano (Author), Francesca Formisano (Music Composer), Thomas Signorelli (Choreographer), Fabio Antinori (Set Designer), Daniele Davino (Light Designer), Maria Sabato (Costume Designer), Alberta Nunziante (Artistic Project Manager), Dario Conchione (Production & Logistics Manager), Alessandro Dal Pra’ (Production Manager Studio), Linda Sonia Mammana (Production Manager) and Rosy Caruso (Production Account), along with the creative studio Unità C1 for multimedia content and Merlo Recording Studio as Musical Producer.