VERONA, ITALY — A steady drumbeat echoed through the ancient stone walls of the Arena di Verona as dancers dressed in white moved in slow circles beneath sweeping lights. Their choreography pulsed like a heartbeat, a symbol woven throughout the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Inside the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater, the Paralympic movement officially opened its newest chapter Friday night.

The ceremony marked the start of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games and celebrated a milestone for the movement — the 50th anniversary of the Paralympic Winter Games.

The Arena di Verona, long known as one of Italy’s most historic performance venues and home to world-famous opera productions, served as the dramatic backdrop for the evening’s ceremony following accessibility renovations completed ahead of the Games.

From the opening drum performance to the final musical celebration, the ceremony blended artistic expression, symbolism and sport while welcoming the athletes preparing to compete across Italy.

Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations began with music from Italian DJs Meduza and Miky Bionic, bringing delegations into the arena in one of the most recognizable traditions of the Paralympic Games.

Because competition venues are spread across multiple cities and events begin soon after the ceremony, delegations were limited to sending only a small number of athletes to Verona. In most cases, teams were represented by one or two athletes serving as ceremonial representatives, while some countries opted not to attend in person.

In a departure from the traditional format, volunteers carried the national flags during the parade while athletes walked behind their country’s flag.

For Team USA, sled hockey player Josh Pauls and alpine skier Laurie Stephens represented the American delegation during the ceremony.

Host nation Italy closed the parade, drawing one of the loudest receptions of the evening as Italian athletes entered the stadium.

A Ceremony Built Around Movement

Throughout the evening, the ceremony explored the idea of movement, both physical and symbolic.

White-clad dancers created patterns representing the rhythm of a heartbeat, a central metaphor for the Paralympic movement and its athletes.

Other segments explored how perspective can change the way people experience space. Acrobatic performers worked with mirrors and vertical structures, representing the ways technology, design and innovation can expand how people move through the world.

Italian composer and producer Dardust led one of the ceremony’s central musical performances as dancers and Para athletes interacted with the stage environment, illustrating how collaboration and creativity can transform spaces that once seemed limiting.

Video segments also reflected on the past five decades of the Paralympic Winter Games, tracing the journey from the early competitions inspired by the Stoke Mandeville Games to today’s global sporting event.

Speeches and the Spirit of the Games

As the ceremony moved toward its formal conclusion, dignitaries addressed the athletes gathered in Verona and those watching from Paralympic Villages across Italy.

Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee, welcomed the world to Italy and spoke about the importance of breaking barriers through sport.

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons then reflected on the origins of the movement and the progress made since its beginnings nearly eight decades ago.

“From those humble beginnings to a global platform showcasing human endeavour and achievement, today the Paralympic Games are the most transformational sport event on earth,” Parsons said.

Parsons described the Paralympic movement as a powerful example of what sport can achieve in society.

“Paralympians are the heartbeat of this movement,” he said. “You represent the future we all believe in.”

Moments later, Italian President Sergio Mattarella officially declared the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games open.

The Flame Arrives

The Paralympic flame, which traveled through Italy for 11 days before reaching Verona, entered the arena carried by an Italian fencing champion.

While the Verona ceremony did not feature a permanent cauldron, performers created a symbolic flame at the center of the stadium floor as golden confetti cascaded across the stage.

At the same time, Paralympic cauldrons were lit simultaneously in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, linking the opening ceremony with the venues that will host competition throughout the Games.

The dual lighting reflected the structure of Milano Cortina 2026, where events are spread across several regions of northern Italy.

Turning Toward Competition

As the ceremony came to a close, performers and musicians returned to the stage for a final celebration while athletes and spectators shared the moment inside the historic arena.

For one evening, Verona served as the ceremonial heart of the Paralympic movement.

Now the attention shifts to the competition venues across northern Italy — Milano, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme — where the races and matches of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are about to unfold.