— Published on November 26, 2025

The Olympic flame sets off again for another round

Milan-Cortina 2026 Focus

Light the flame! The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games will open in two and a half months, on February 6, 2026. A crucial step was taken this Wednesday with the lighting of the flame in Olympia. It will arrive in Athens on December 4, where it will be handed over to Italy. The relay will officially depart from Rome on December 6 for a 12.000-kilometer journey, during which the flame will pass through more than 300 municipalities and all 110 provinces of the country.

The canals of Venice, the Colosseum and Punta Gnifetti

Each day, the convoy will set off at 7:30 a.m. and finish its journey around 19:30 p.m. with the lighting of the cauldron in the host city along the route. Florence, Pescara, Rimini (famous for its connection to Marco Pantani), Parma, Bologna, Genoa, Naples, Turin, Udine, Cortina, Livigno, Bergamo, Como, and Monza are among the cities that will have this honor. The relay will also include stops in Sicily and Sardinia.

More than 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites will be illuminated by the flame. It will stop at the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the majestic Piazza del Campo in Siena (well known to cycling enthusiasts as the finish line of the Strade Bianche every year), the spectacular Marmore Falls in Umbria, the canals of Venice and the Gnifetti Peak, at 4.554 m altitude, one of the highest peaks in the Alps.

« The route has been designed to highlight the country's most evocative landscapes, as well as the stories of talent, courage, and solidarity that bring them to life.Maria Laura Iascone, director of ceremonies, points out. It is a journey that celebrates creativity and inclusion, values ​​that the Games transmit to the whole world. »

Remember the power of sport

10,001 relay runners will participate in this great two-month adventure. Among them are the artist Achille Lauro and the tennis player Flavia Pennetta. MotoGP rider Francesco BagnaiaThe footballer Cristiana Girelli, actresses Marisa Tomei and Alessandra Mastronardi, para-basketball player Chiara Vingione, and other personalities who have made a lasting impression through their commitment to Olympic values ​​are among those who will carry the torch. This includes Dario Pivirotto, born in 1936, who will carry the flame for the third time after 1956 and 2006.

The commitment to inclusion will also be highlighted, notably through Franco Antonello, founder of an association for people with disabilities, and his son Andrea, who has autism. They will wear predominantly white uniforms. At each stage in our cities, the relay will remind the world of the power of sport: to build bridges and break down barriers., emphasizes Giovanni Malagò, president of the organizing committee. It will be a journey that weaves together roots and future, hospitality and innovation, celebrating what makes up the essence of Italy. »