The lighting of the Olympic flame, a ritual that has been part of the Games since 1936, symbolises values humanity has long associated with fire — peace, friendship, and continuity — while linking the ancient Olympics to the modern era.

That tradition will again begin in Olympia, Greece, where on Wednesday 26 November 2025 the sacred ceremony will ignite the flame that will burn throughout the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. A universal symbol of unity, the flame carries a message of peace and invites the world to share in an event of global significance, rooted in the principles of Olympism.

The handover ceremony will take place in Athens on Thursday 4 December, in the city that staged the first modern Games in 1896. Two days later, on Saturday 6 December, the flame will embark on its Italian journey — a magical 63-day adventure covering 12,000 kilometres. The relay will celebrate Italian creativity, dynamism, warmth and talent, with 10,001 torchbearers carrying it through 20 regions and 110 provinces.

The route has been designed to pay tribute to Italy’s immense historical and cultural heritage. With more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other nation, the flame will shine a light on many of the 60 Italian locations on the list. Alongside the relay, 60 celebratory events are planned to unite and inspire communities under the banner of sport and Olympism. The design of the torch itself will be unveiled in April 2025 at the Osaka Expo in Japan.

Over Christmas the flame will pass through Naples, welcoming the New Year in Bari, before arriving in Cortina on Monday 26 January — exactly 70 years after the opening of the 1956 Winter Games in the same town. The relay will conclude in Milan’s San Siro Stadium on Friday 6 February, where the curtain will officially rise on the 25th Winter Olympics.

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