Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympics: 63 days, 60 celebrations, 12,000 kilometres
On Tuesday, the organisers of the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games officially unveiled the torch relay routes. It has to be said that this 26 November 2025 is a symbolic date, as the traditional lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia (Greece) is scheduled to take place… in one year’s time to the day.
After its ritual lighting in the cradle of Olympism, the Olympic flame will arrive in Rome (Italy) on 4 December and, two days later, will begin its journey across the entire country. In total, the relay will last 63 days, with 60 celebrations and 12,000 kilometres covered. The flame will be in Naples (Italy) on Christmas Day and in Bari (Italy) on New Year’s Day. On 26 January, it will return to Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) exactly 70 years after the opening ceremony of the 1956 Olympic Games. It will end its journey on 6 February with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron in the San Siro stadium in Milan (Italy) for the Opening Ceremony.
Along the way, the Olympic flame will illuminate many of Italy’s 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites. “This journey will involve 10,001 torchbearers, each with their own story to tell: stories of passion, sacrifice, courage and inclusion. The Olympic flame is a beacon that inspires us all to look to the future with hope and renewed ambition,” says Andrea Varnier, Managing Director of the Milan/Cortina 2026 Foundation, in a press release.
The Paralympic Torch Relay will take place from 24 February to 6 March 2026, as soon as the sacred fire is lit in Stoke Mandeville (Great Britain). In 11 days, it will cover 2,000 kilometres. At the opening ceremony in the Arena in Verona (Italy), 501 torchbearers will parade with the flame.
The route of the Olympic flame on video
The route of the Paralympic flame on video
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games: tickets on sale for as little as €30, find out all the prices
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games: pictograms and look of the Games unveiled
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympics: the Olympic rings installed in Antholz
- 500 days to go until the start of the Milan/Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games
