Here’s your 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony preview. The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics are nearing their conclusion after 17 days of competition across 116 events in 16 disciplines, from alpine skiing to the debut of ski mountaineering. As of February 20, 2026 (late Day 14), 102 events are complete, with key finals still ahead in men’s ice hockey, curling medals, and more before the Games wrap on February 22. Norway has dominated with a record-breaking haul, while host Italy and the United States have delivered strong showings amid upsets and historic moments. This preparatory recap covers the overall summary, USA’s performance, notable surprises, and a latest medal table with projections-plus a printable standings section for easy tracking.
*Note: The summary is written as of 12PM PST, February 20th, 2026. We’ll update you again before the closing ceremonies.
Full Summary of the 2026 Winter Olympics
The Milano-Cortina Games, held February 6–22, 2026, marked the first Winter Olympics co-hosted by two cities (Milan for ice events and ceremonies, Cortina d’Ampezzo for snow sports), with additional venues in Valtellina and Val di Fiemme. A total of 2,900 athletes from 93 nations competed, including NHL players returning to men’s hockey and new events like women’s monobob and mixed team ski jumping. Highlights included Norway’s biathlon and cross-country prowess, Italy’s home-ice advantages in speed skating and luge, and global breakthroughs like China’s speed skating records and Switzerland’s curling consistency. Weather challenges were minimal, with mild conditions in the Alps allowing smooth operations. As the Games conclude, focus shifts to the final medals in men’s hockey gold (likely USA or Canada in the mix post-semis), women’s curling gold (Sweden vs. Switzerland), and the symbolic handover to the 2030 host (French Alps).
USA Performance Highlights
Team USA has secured 27 medals (9 gold, 12 silver, 6 bronze) as of late February 20, placing second in total medals behind Norway. Key golds came from women’s ice hockey (2-1 OT win over Canada on Feb 19, with Megan Keller’s decisive goal-USA’s third Olympic title in the event), women’s figure skating (Alysa Liu’s comeback free skate for the first U.S. women’s individual gold since 2002), and alpine skiing (Mikaela Shiffrin’s women’s slalom victory, her third Olympic gold). Jordan Stolz added multiple speed skating medals, including silver in men’s 1500m, while the men’s freeski team impressed with silvers in big air (Mac Forehand) and halfpipe. Disappointments included Ilia Malinin’s surprising eighth in men’s figure skating after leading the short program, and the women’s speed skating team pursuit missing the podium. Overall, USA surged late with Day 13-14 performances, climbing from mid-table to a solid second in totals-on pace for 28-30 medals if finals go well.
Key Surprises of the Games
Norway shattered its own Winter Olympics gold record from 2022 (16) by reaching 17 golds, driven by biathlon (Johannes Dale-Skjevdal’s mass start win) and cross-country dominance-cementing their status as the top winter sports nation. Host Italy matched USA’s nine golds, exceeding expectations with upsets like the men’s speed skating team pursuit gold over USA. In figure skating, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov stunned with men’s singles gold amid Malinin’s falls. The U.S. women’s curling team achieved a historic first by beating Canada in round-robin play, though they settled for a bronze-medal game berth. China’s Ning Zhongyan set an Olympic record in men’s 1500m speed skating, while underdogs like Slovakia advanced deep in men’s hockey. Weather held steady, avoiding major disruptions, but injuries (e.g., Canada’s Sidney Crosby in hockey) altered medal races.
Latest Medal Table (as of Late February 20, 2026 – Post-Day 14; 102/116 Events Complete)
Norway leads with a historic 17 golds and 37 total medals. Projections for the final table (assuming remaining events like men’s hockey and curling finals) could push Norway to 18-19 golds and USA/Italy to 10 each. Data from Olympics.com and NBC Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Norway (NOR) | 17 | 10 | 10 | 37 |
| 2 | United States (USA) | 9 | 12 | 6 | 27 |
| 3 | Italy (ITA) host | 9 | 5 | 12 | 26 |
| 4 | Germany (GER) | 6 | 8 | 8 | 22 |
| 5 | France (FRA) | 6 | 8 | 6 | 20 |
| 6 | Netherlands (NED) | 6 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| 7 | Switzerland (SUI) | 6 | 6 | 4 | 16 |
| 7 | Sweden (SWE) | 6 | 6 | 4 | 16 |
| 9 | Austria (AUT) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 18 |
| 10 | Japan (JPN) | 5 | 7 | 12 | 24 |
| 11 | Canada (CAN) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 |
| 12 | China (CHN) | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
Notes: Ranked by gold medals, then silver, then bronze. For the full official list, visit Olympics.com/medals. Copy this table for your printable standings-paste into a document or spreadsheet for easy printing and tracking.
2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Preview (February 22, 2026)
Here’s the 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony preview for you. The Games conclude with the Closing Ceremony at the historic Verona Arena (renamed Verona Olympic Arena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on Sunday, February 22, starting at 20:00 CET (11:00 AM PST / 2:00 PM ET). Expect a two-and-a-half-hour spectacle blending music, art, and athletic tributes, directed by Filmmaster. Highlights include the athletes’ parade, medal presentations for final events (e.g., men’s hockey gold), speeches from IOC President Thomas Bach, and the simultaneous extinguishing of two Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina-a first for Winter Games. The Olympic flag handover to the 2030 hosts (French Alps) will feature, along with performances (full list via NBC; expect Italian artists and global stars). Watch live on NBC (coverage starts 2:30 PM ET) or stream on Peacock. It’s a celebration of unity and the end of an era for Milano-Cortina.
Bookmark this page for final updates post-Feb 22.
(Last updated: February 20, 2026. Medal counts and projections from official sources; final table confirmed after Day 16.)
Olympics Resources Section
- Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Hub
For live results, full schedules, athlete profiles, medal counts, and event replays during the Games.. - LA 2028 Summer Olympics Preview & Coverage
Get ahead of the next Olympic cycle with our dedicated articles on the 2028 Los Angeles Games (July 14–30, 2028):- 2028 LA Olympics: Full July 14-30 Schedule Overview + Key Venues & Printable Calendar – Includes venue breakdowns, key event dates, and a free printable calendar.
- 2028 Summer Olympics Sports & Events List
Official LA28 site for the latest news, venue announcements, volunteer info, and ticket interest registration: https://la28.org.
