LAKE PLACID — The Adirondack Sports Council announced the theme for the 2026 Empire State Winter Games Opening Ceremony will be “Where Chill Meets Will.”
The theme embodies the determination, resilience and spirit that define winter athletes while capturing the unique blend of challenge and celebration that makes the games a premier multi-sport winter festival. The theme will be woven throughout the four-day event, uniting competitors, spectators and the community in honoring the grit and passion that drive winter sports.
“The theme ‘Where Chill Meets Will’ perfectly captures the heart of the Empire State Winter Games,” said ADKSC Executive Director Karlan Jessen. “It will inspire every athlete to embrace the icy challenge with determination and passion, while setting the stage for an unforgettable opening ceremony that celebrates both their grit and the spirit of winter sport.”
NBC5 meteorologist Tom Messner will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the opening ceremony.
During his career at WPTZ, Messner was a perennial favorite in the Champlain Valley and Adirondack regions. His weather reports were seen nationwide on The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Weather Channel and MSNBC. He was inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be the Master of Ceremonies for the ESWG Opening Ceremony,” he said in a press release. “This is going to be an electrifying celebration, and I can’t wait to bring the energy and excitement as we kick off an unforgettable event together.”
The program will showcase the Turbo Twins, Parade of Athletes, a video montage of the ESWG’s Torch Tour and a special tribute to the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, which begin Feb. 6. The night culminates with the lighting of the ESWG cauldron, officially marking the start of the 46th annual games and festival, all set against the backdrop of the Lake Placid Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena.
The opening ceremony is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 5. The event is open and free to the public.
For more information or to register as an athlete and volunteer, visit empirestatewintergames.com.