Back to the Newsroom

46TH ANNUAL EMPIRE STATE WINTER GAMES OPENING CEREMONY THEME, “WHERE CHILL MEETS WILL”

46TH Annual Empire State Winter Games Opening Ceremony Free and Open to Everyone

NBC5 Meteorologist Tom Messner will Serve as Empire State Winter Games’ Opening Ceremony Master of Ceremony

46th Annual Empire State Winter Games Scheduled for February 5-8, 2026 in Lake Placid and Surrounding North Country Region

Registration is Open to Compete or Volunteer and be a Part of the 46th Annual Empire State Winter Games

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The Adirondack Sports Council (ADKSC) announced today that the theme for the 2026 Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) Opening Ceremony, Thursday, Feb. 5, will be “Where Chill Meets Will.” This powerful message embodies the determination, resilience, and spirit that define winter athletes, while also 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 ESWG Opening Ceremony, bringing his familiar energy, charisma, and humor to the unforgettable evening.

During his career at WPTZ, Messner was a perennial favorite in the Champlain Valley and Adirondack regions, and his weather reports were seen nationwide on The TODAY Show, LIVE with Regis & Kelly, The Weather Channel, and MSNBC. He was honored to be inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016.

Messner added, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be the Master of Ceremonies for the ESWG Opening Ceremony. 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 high‑flying Turbo Twins, the inspiring Parade of Athletes, a powerful 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 dramatic lighting of the ESWG Cauldron, officially marking the start of the 46th annual Games and festival— all set against the iconic backdrop of theLake Placid Olympic Center’s legendary 1980 Herb Brooks Arena.

The 46th Annual ESWG Opening Ceremony is slated to begin at 7 p.m., Feb. 5. The event is open and free to the public.

Registration is open to be a part of February’s Empire State Winter Games. Athletes and volunteers can log onto https://empirestatewintergames.com to register.

For more information about the 46th Empire State Winter Games, go to https://empirestatewintergames.com/. 

Fans and athletes can also follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X, using @ESWGames and #ESWGames. 

Photos from the 45th Annual Empire State Winter Games are available HERE.