The curtain has come down on an unforgettable 20th edition of the Mediterranean Games.

The Closing Ceremony at the Erasmo Iacovone Stadium marked the end of Taranto 2026, a record-breaking event for Italia Team.

The Italians, who topped the medal table for the sixth consecutive edition in a run stretching back to Almería 2005, brought their extraordinary campaign in Puglia to a close with 224 medals: 74 gold, 78 silver and 72 bronze.

Having surpassed the previous all-time record for the total number of podium finishes — the 193 achieved at Bari 1997 — and broken through the historic 200-medal barrier, Taranto 2026 also became Italy’s second-best Mediterranean Games ever in terms of gold medals.

The 74 titles were bettered only by Bari 1997, when Italy won 76, while the totals recorded at Athens 1991 with 67, Latakia 1987 with 69 and Mersin 2013 with 70 were all surpassed during the final days of competition.

The figures underline the achievements of a seemingly unstoppable team.

Among those attending the Closing Ceremony (photo: Andrea Masini/CONI) were Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati, senior officials from the Taranto 2026 Organising Committee and the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, as well as other representatives of political and sporting institutions.

It was an evening shaped by the music, traditions, colours and lights that characterise Puglia.

As is customary, Greece led the parade of delegations, accompanied by music and the applause of a celebrating crowd, whose enthusiasm rose even further when Italia Team flagbearers Angela Andreoli and Francesco Condemi appeared on the pitch at the Iacovone.

Mia Zottoli, Miss World Italy 2026, handed the Italian flag to the Italian Navy Honour Guard, which raised it to the sound of the Italian national anthem.

Kosovo basketball player Adhurim Alijaj then carried the flag of his country, which will host the next edition of the Mediterranean Games.

The flag handover ceremony then took place, marking the passing of the baton from Italy, represented by Taranto Mayor Piero Bitetti, to Kosovo, represented by Pristina Mayor Përparim Rama, in the presence of Mehrez Boussayene, First Vice-President acting as President of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games.

Boussayene then addressed the audience, as did Taranto 2026 President Massimo Ferrarese.

The music started again and the people of Puglia experienced with emotion and enthusiasm the celebration the occasion deserved.