Verona hosts opening ceremony for 2026 Winter Paralympics

VERONA, Italy — The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games officially opened Friday night with a ceremony at the Arena di Verona, marking the start of 10 days of competition across northern Italy.

The opening ceremony, titled “Life in Motion,” transformed the ancient Roman amphitheater into a global stage celebrating inclusivity, resilience and the power of sport. The show featured music, artistic performances and large-scale visual displays, launching the 14th edition of the Winter Paralympics and celebrating the continuing growth of the Paralympic movement.

Held in one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks, the ceremony highlighted Verona’s role in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, which run from March 6–15. The Arena di Verona served as the symbolic starting point before competition spreads to venues across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and other alpine sites.

More than 600 athletes from about 50 nations are expected to compete in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para snowboard, Para ice hockey and wheelchair curling.

The Games continue the expansion of the Paralympic movement, which brings together athletes with physical and visual impairments to compete at the highest international level. Organizers have emphasized accessibility and inclusion as central themes throughout the Games.

The opening ceremony took place amid some geopolitical tension. Several countries opted not to participate in the parade of nations in protest of the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.

Other delegations skipped the ceremony for logistical reasons, as Verona sits roughly 250 kilometers from the mountain venues where many competitions will take place. Organizers said all participating nations would still be represented in the parade, even if some athletes remained at their competition sites.

Despite those challenges, the focus of opening night remained on the athletes and the Paralympic spirit. With the cauldron lit in Verona, the Games now shift to the slopes, rinks and trails across northern Italy, where the world’s top Paralympic winter athletes will compete for medals over the next 10 days.