Organizers Unveil Metallic Torches for Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics

Organizers for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina on Monday unveiled a metallic design for the torches that will be used in the traditional relay ahead of next year’s Games.

The torches, which were designed by Italian architect Carlo Ratti, were displayed at joint presentations at the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and in Milan. The Olympic flame will arrive in Rome on Decemeber 4 and will begin its journey across Italy two days later.

Four athletes presented the torches: Olympic Champion and last torchbearer at the Olympic Winter Games Torino 2006 Stefania Belmondo and Paralympic Champion Bebe Vio in Milano; Paralympic Champion Martina Caironi and Carolina Kostner, bronze medallist at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, in Osaka. 

The torches will be made primarily out of recycled materials, with a design system that lets the fuel canister be refilled up to 10 times — reducing the number of torches that will be needed, organizers said. Made from an aluminum and brass alloy, the Olympic torch features a blue-green hue while the Paralympic version is bronze colored.

The 2026 Games run February 6-22 and the Paralympics run March 6-15.

“The design of the torch is intended to enhance the flame itself, the true essence of the torch relay,” organizers said. “The idea is to direct focus towards the flame, leaving the torch almost in the background. By concentrating on the simplicity of the design, the flame becomes the main protagonist.”