2026 Winter Olympics torch relay

The torch relay for the 2026 Winter Olympics began on 26 November 2025 in Olympia, Greece, and will conclude on 6 February 2026 in Milan, Italy, coinciding with the opening ceremony at San Siro. The routes for both the Olympic and Paralympic torch relays were unveiled by the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 on 26 November 2024, one year before the start of the former.
Following the lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia, a handover ceremony will happen in Athens on 4 December 2025, where the flame will then arrive in Rome and visit all 110 provinces of Italy, making 60 stops over 63 days across and involving 10,001 torchbearers. The torch will be in Naples for Christmas, in Bari for New Year's Eve, and in Cortina d'Ampezzo on 26 January to commemorate 70 years since it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics. While the torch is in Piedmont, a tribute is planned for skier Matilde Lorenzi, who died while training in October 2024. The torch relay plans to visit every World Heritage Site in the country. On 29 November 2024, Italian comedy trio were announced as official narrators for the torch relay.

Torch and torchbearers

The design of the torch was unveiled on 14 April at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, as well as simultaneously at Milan's Triennale; Osaka and Milan are twin cities. The Olympic torch, which was designed by Carlo Ratti Associati, is light blue, shaped like a flute, and weighs. Made from recycled aluminium, it was designed to be refillable and runs on a renewable liquefied petroleum gas primarily made from waste.
For the torch relay, 10,001 torchbearers are expected to be involved. Applications for torchbearers opened on 12 February 2025 for the Italian leg, and on 10 September 2025 for the Greek leg. Rower Petros Gkaidatzis was the first torchbearer once the flame was lit in Olympia; alpine skier AJ Ginnis had originally been selected by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, but was unable to participate due to injury. Water polo player Eleni Xenaki was the last torchbearer for the Greek leg.
Torchbearers who have been announced for the Italian leg include singer sport shooter Abhinav Bindra and footballers Cristiana Girelli and Zlatan Ibrahimović. In addition, the digital ambassadors for the Games will also serve as torchbearers, including actress.

Stops in Greece

The Greek leg was announced on 9 May 2025, involving over 450 torchbearers covering more than through 23 regional units. The Greek leg will also pass by the country's twelve largest ski resorts for the first time. A total of 36 welcoming ceremonies took place over the nine days before the flame's arrival at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens for the handover ceremony on 4 December 2025.
The Olympic torch relay began on 26 November 2025 with a ceremony at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. Original plans to host the ceremony at the Stadium at Olympia, as with previous torch relays, were changed due to forecasts of poor weather during the week. The actual lighting took place two days prior on 24 November at the Temple of Hera, using a parabolic mirror to concentrate the rays of the sun. The flame was then preserved in a safety lamp until the ceremony, where it was used to light the Olympic torch in the museum. In Patras, the torch made a stop for a ceremony at the former home of Kostis Palamas, lyricist of the Olympic Hymn.
Also due to inclement weather, it was announced that the handover ceremony would be greatly reduced, with the artistic component being cut, and the number of participants limited. The ceremony saw performances by singing the Olympic Hymn, Tassis Christoyannis singing the national anthem of Italy, and singing the national anthem of Greece. Water polo player Eleni Xenaki and her teammates lit the cauldron at the Panathenaic Stadium, after which Hellenic Olympic Committee president handed the torch to Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 president Giovanni Malagò. Tennis player Jasmine Paolini was selected as a torchbearer during the ceremony and accompanied the flame on an ITA Airways flight, arriving at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

Day	Date	Stops	Notable torchbearers
1			Petros Gkaidatzis, rower Stefania Belmondo, former cross-country skier Armin Zöggeler, former luger Dimosthenis Tampakos, former gymnast and Hellenic Olympic Academy president Nikolaos Skiathitis, rower Ioannis Tsilis, rower Stergios Papachristos, rower Aikaterini Oikonomopoulou, water polo player
2			, actor Charalampos Flouskounis, taekwondo athlete Zhang Boheng, gymnast Wang Siyu, basketball player Chen Yujie, sprinter Ioannis Antoniou, alpine skier
3			Antigoni Drisbioti, race walker Ioannis Bourousis, basketball player Dimitrios Tsiamis, triple jumper Ioannis Tsilis, rower Apostolos Angelis, cross-country skier
4			Dimosthenis Tampakos, former gymnast and Hellenic Olympic Academy president Iordanis Konstantinidis, former wrestler Apostolos Telikostoglou, taekwondo athlete Evangelia Anastasiadou, rower Ioannis Christou, rower Zoi Fitsiou, rower Dimitris Diamantidis, former basketball player
5			Jeanne Hristou, fencer Anastasios Tsiou, shot putter Sophia Ralli, alpine skier
6			Polyniki Emmanouilidou, sprinter Elisavet Mystakidou, taekwondo athlete Dimitrios Pelkas, footballer , alpine skier Apostolos Taskoudis, wrestler Konstantinos Douvalidis, hurdler Maria Georgatou, rhythmic gymnast Polymnia Saregkou, former basketball player
7			Evangelia Psarra, former archer Stergios Papachristos, rower Eleftheria Ftouli, former synchronised swimmer Panagiotis Giannakis, former basketball player
8			Athanasios Ghavelas, sprinter Virginia Kravarioti, sailor Vasileios Polymeros, rower Stefanos Ntouskos, rower
9			Stefanos Dimopoulos, sprint canoeist Stefanos Chandakas, former sailor and Hellenic Olympic Committee secretary-general Kimberly Guilfoyle, U.S. ambassador to Greece Patrick Soon-Shiong, surgeon Georgios Kougioumtsidis, wrestler Jasmine Paolini, tennis player Filippo Ganna, cyclist Eleni Xenaki, water polo player

Stops in Italy

The flame arrived at Rome's Quirinal Palace on 4 December 2025, with the relay through the country starting two days later from the Stadio dei Marmi. It travelled through several regions including Tuscany before visiting the islands of Sardinia and Sicily and then returning to the mainland. The route plans to visit all 20 regions of Italy and 110 provinces before ending at San Siro for the opening ceremony of the Games.
On 16 December, the torch reached Lampedusa, the southernmost part of Italy, transported aboard an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter flown by the Italian Air Force.

Stage	No.	Date	Region	Stops	Notable torchbearers
Rome	1		Lazio		Gregorio Paltrinieri, swimmer Elisa Di Francisca, former fencer Gianmarco Tamberi, high jumper Achille Polonara, basketball player Matteo Berrettini, tennis player Gigi Datome, former basketball player Andrea Bargnani, former basketball player Max Biaggi, former motorcycle racer Giuseppe Tornatore, film director Noemi, singer Achille Lauro, singer Claudia Gerini, actress
Viterbo	2		Lazio	Rome Ostia Civitavecchia Tarquinia Viterbo Separate convoy: Appian Way Ostia Antica Tivoli * Hadrian's Villa * Villa d'Este	Martín Castrogiovanni, former rugby player Giancarlo Peris, former track athlete Martina Centofanti, rhythmic gymnast , sports commentator
Terni	3		Umbria	Montefiascone Orvieto * Pozzo di San Patrizio Narni Rieti Terni Separate convoy: Cascate delle Marmore	Danilo Petrucci, motorcycle racer Alessio Foconi, fencer Massimiliano Rota, former bobsledder Tonino Viali, former runner
Perugia	4		Umbria	Spoleto Foligno Spello Assisi * Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels in Assisi Perugia * Piazza IV Novembre Separate convoy: Todi Trevi	Andrea Ranocchia, former footballer Simone Giannelli, volleyball player Margherita Castellani, track and field athlete Lamberto Boranga, former footballer
Siena	5		Tuscany	Gubbio Città di Castello Arezzo Montepulciano Pienza Siena Separate convoy: Crete Senesi Castiglione del Lago	Alice Volpi, fencer Paolo Lorenzi, tennis player Matteo Betti, fencer , former basketball player Elena Vallortigara, high jumper Irene Siragusa, sprinter
Florence	6		Tuscany	Grosseto Volterra Pontedera Empoli Florence * Piazza della Santissima Annunziata Separate convoy: San Gimignano	Al Bano, singer , former volleyball player Leonardo Fabbri, shot putter Lorenzo Zazzeri, swimmer Ambra Sabatini, sprinter Giancarlo Antognoni, former footballer
Livorno	7		Tuscany	Prato Pistoia Montecatini Terme * Great Spa Towns of Europe Lucca Pisa * Piazza dei Miracoli Livorno	Aldo Montano, fencer , comedian Igor Protti, former footballer , former basketball player Ambra Sabatini, sprinter
Nuoro	8		Sardinia	Olbia Sassari Porto Torres Alghero Nuoro Separate convoy: Stintino	Melissa Satta, television presenter Alessia Orro, volleyball player Nicola Bartolini, gymnast Silvia Basolu, handball player Gianmario Fancello, judoka
Cagliari	9		Sardinia	Oristano Sanluri Quartu Sant'Elena Cagliari Separate convoy: Iglesias Su Nuraxi	Dalia Kaddari, sprinter Lorenzo Patta, sprinter Giulia Stagno, field hockey player Stefano Oppo, rower
Palermo	10		Sicily	Castelvetrano Mazara del Vallo Marsala Trapani Palermo * Palazzo dei Normanni * Piazza Ruggero Settimo Separate convoy: Selinunte Monreale Cathedral	Filippo Inzaghi, former footballer Tilman Fertitta, U.S. ambassador to Italy Rachid Berradi, runner Sofia Giunchiglia, sailor Tony Cairoli, motorcycle racer
Agrigento	11		Sicily	Cefalù Enna Caltanissetta Agrigento * Valle dei Templi Separate convoy: Piazza Armerina Lampedusa	Mirco Scarantino, weightlifter Elena Dibattista, tennis player Matteo Platania, padelista Emma Colletti, karateka
Syracuse	12		Sicily	Licata Gela Ragusa Noto * Val di Noto Avola Syracuse * Ortygia Separate convoy: Caltagirone Marzamemi Portopalo di Capo Passero	Luigi Busà, karateka Valentino Gallo, water polo player Samuele Burgo, canoeist , canoe sprinter , speed skater Matteo Melluzzo, sprinter Nick DiGiovanni, chef
Catania	13		Sicily	Priolo Gargallo Augusta Carlentini Catania * Piazza del Duomo Separate convoy: Nicolosi Mount Etna	Myriam Sylla, volleyball player Robert Pires, former footballer , futsal player Tania Di Mario, water polo player Salvatore Cavallaro, boxer
Reggio Calabria	14		Calabria	Acireale Giarre Riposto Messina Reggio Calabria Separate convoy: Taormina	Daniele Garozzo, fencer Vincenzo Nibali, former cyclist Daniela Rita Dattilo, runner Fabio Vazzana, triathlete Miriana Tona, tennis player , sports executive Pietro Iemmello, footballer Massimo Palanca, former footballer
Catanzaro	15		Calabria	Gioia Tauro Rosarno Vibo Valentia Lamezia Terme Catanzaro Separate convoy: Tropea	Antonio Fuoco, racing driver Anna Russo, writer Simone Alessio, taekwondo practitioner Francesca Stancati, footballer
Salerno	16		Campania	Cosenza Sala Consilina Battipaglia Bellizzi Salerno Separate convoy: Crotone Maratea * Cristo Redentore Paestum	Stefano Maiolica, Internet celebrity Rossella Gregorio, fencer Claudia Mandia, archer
Pompei	17		Campania	Salerno, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Gragnano, Castellammare di Stabia, Pompei	Alessandra Mastronardi, actress Immacolata Cerasuolo, swimmer Sandro Cuomo, former fencer
Naples	18		Campania	Pompei, Torre Annunziata, Torre del Greco, Ercolano, Portici, Marcianise, Caivano, San Giorgio a Cremano, Caivano, Scampia, Naples	Giuseppe Abbagnale, former rower Fabio Cannavaro, former footballer Massimiliano Rosolino, former swimmer Ciro Ferrara, former footballer
Naples	18		Campania	Remains in Naples during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day	rowspan="2"
Naples	18		Campania	Remains in Naples during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day	-
Latina	19		Lazio	Naples, Caserta, Minturno, Formia, Gaeta, Sabaudia, San Felice Circeo, Latina	Romano Battisti, former rower Alessio Sartori, former rower , rower Alessia Mesiano, boxer Mauro Di Prospero, sport shooter
Benevento	20		Campania	Latina, Sermoneta, Frosinone, Montecassino, Cassino, Pomigliano d'Arco, Telese Terme, Benevento	Rossana Pasquino, fencer
Potenza	21		Basilicata	Benevento, Avellino, Melfi, Castel Lagopesole, Rionero in Vulture, Venosa, Filiano, Pietragalla, Potenza	Arisa, singer Francesca Palumbo, fencer Domenico Acerenza, swimmer Donato Telesca, powerlifter
Taranto	22		Apulia	Potenza, Castelmezzano, Pisticci, Matera, Altamura, Gioia del Colle, Massafra, Crispiano, Taranto	Antonio Giovinazzi, racing driver Carlo Molfetta, taekwondo practitioner Roberta Vinci, former tennis player Antonella Palmisano, racewalker
Lecce	23		Apulia	Taranto, Nardò, Gallipoli, Presicce-Acquarica, Maglie, Otranto, Lecce	Ferdinando De Giorgi, former volleyball player Olsi Paja, runner Stefano Petranca, runner
Bari	24		Apulia	Lecce, Brindisi, Ostuni, Cisternino, Alberobello, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Bari	, former bobsledder Carmela Glorioso, runner
Campobasso	25		Molise	Bari, Trani, Castel del Monte, Barletta, Foggia, Termoli, Campobasso	Andrea Lalli, runner Maria Centracchio, judoka Rossella Ferro Alessio D'Agostino, swimmer
Pescara	26		Abruzzo	Campobasso, Isernia, Castel di Sangro, Roccaraso, Pescara	, basketball player Daniele Fontecchio, hurdler Roberta Pagliuca, runner Luca Ultimo Bronzi, kiteboarder
L'Aquila	27		Abruzzo	Pescara, Chieti, Montesilvano, Silvi, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Giulianova, Teramo, Amatrice, L'Aquila	Paolo Aquilio, basketball player Christian Dervishi, cross-country skier Giovanni Scalisi, alpine skier Alessandra Susmeli, runner
Ancona	28		Marche	L'Aquila, Rocca Calascio, Ascoli Piceno, San Benedetto del Tronto, Fermo, Civitanova Marche, Macerata, Ancona	Claudia Rossi, sailor , javelin thrower Mattia Occhinero, boxer
Rimini	29		Emilia-Romagna	Ancona, Jesi, Senigallia, Fano, Gradara, Pesaro, Urbino, Riccione, Rimini	Valentina Vezzali, former fencer Matteo Signani, boxer Nicole Piomboni, volleyball player Milva Rossi, former softball player
Bologna	30		Emilia-Romagna	Rimini, Cesena, Forlì, Faenza, Imola, Bologna	Marco Belinelli, former basketball player Sabina Valbusa, cross-country skier Luigi Samele, fencer Marco Di Vaio, former footballer
Ferrara	31		Emilia-Romagna	Bologna, Cesenatico, Cervia, Ravenna, Comacchio, Ferrara	Jessica Rossi, sport shooter Mirco Antenucci, former footballer Alessia Maurelli, rhythmic gymnast Martina Santandrea, rhythmic gymnast
Parma	32		Emilia-Romagna	Ferrara, Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Sassuolo, Sestola, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma	Giulia Ghiretti, swimmer Alessandro Fattori, former alpine skier Franco Bertoli, former volleyball player
Genoa	33		Liguria	Parma, Carrara, Massa, Riomaggiore, Manarola, La Spezia, Lavagna, Chiavari, Rapallo, Portofino, Genoa	Gabriele Lanza, ice hockey player , content creator Linda Cerruti, synchronised swimmer Ilaria Elvira Accame, sprinter
Cuneo	34		Piedmont	Genoa, Savona, Imperia, Sanremo, Dolceacqua, Ventimiglia, Cuneo	Elisa Rigaudo, race walker Nicola Dutto, motorcycle racer Maurizio Damilano, former race walker
Turin	35		Piedmont	Cuneo, Bra, La Morra, Alba, Sestriere, Asti, Moncalieri, Stupinigi, Turin	, actor Marina Lubian, volleyball player Carlotta Gilli, swimmer Francesco Bagnaia, motorcycle racer
Aosta	36		Aosta Valley	Turin, Rivoli, Settimo Torinese, Chivasso, Chatillon, Aosta	Andrea Macrì, ice hockey player Federico Pellegrino, cross-country skier Arianna Follis, cross-country skier Francesca Ghirelli, dancer Andrea Soncin, football coach and former footballer
Novara	37		Piedmont	Aosta, Monte Rosa, Ivrea, Biella, Oropa, Vercelli, Casale Monferrato, Novara	, track and field athlete Riccardo Bisatti, pianist , snowboarder Francesca Marsaglia, former alpine skier
Varese	38		Lombardy	Novara, Borgomanero, Gozzano, Verbania, Borromean Islands, Baveno, Stresa, Arona, Varese	Massimiliano Allegri, football manager and former footballer Alessandro Andreoni, ice hockey player Andrea Meneghin, former basketball player Francesca Cesarini, dancer
Pavia	39		Lombardy	Varese, Magenta, Abbiategrasso, Vigevano, Mortara, Torre d'Isola, San Martino Siccomario, Voghera, Pavia	, comedians , shot putter Mauro Nespoli, archer Lorenzo Bernardi, former volleyball player
Piacenza	40		Emilia-Romagna	Pavia, Voghera, Lodi, Casalpusterlengo, Codogno, Alessandria, Tortona, Piacenza	Alessandro Cattelan, television personality Silvia Zanardi, cyclist Andrea Dallavalle, triple jumper
Brescia	41		Lombardy	Piacenza, Cremona, Crema, Sarnico, Paratico, Iseo, Brescia	Domenico Fioravanti, former swimmer Ambra Angiolini, actress and singer Anna Danesi, volleyball player Vanessa Ferrari, artistic gymnast
Verona	42		Veneto	Brescia, Castiglione delle Stiviere, Desenzano del Garda, Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Verona	Paola Pezzo, cyclist Elia Viviani, cyclist Elena Cecchini, cyclist Sara Simeoni, high jumper
Mantua	43		Lombardy	Verona, Villafranca di Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio, Custoza, Isola della Scala, Soave, Asola, Viadana, Suzzara, Mantua, Brescello, Mantua	Roberto Boninsegna, former footballer Grazia Attene, former runner Lucilla Boari, archer
Vicenza	44		Veneto	Mantua, Nogara, Legnago, Rovigo, Adria, Monselice, Este, Abano Terme, Vicenza	Gelindo Bordin, runner
Padua	45		Veneto	Vicenza, Schio, Asiago, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, Montebelluna, Castelfranco Veneto, Cittadella, Padua	Mirco Bergamasco, rugby player Mauro Bergamasco, former rugby player Silvio Martinello, former cyclist Novella Calligaris, former swimmer
Venice	46		Veneto	Padua, Chioggia, Stra, Treviso, Mestre, Venice	Red Canzian, musician Cristiana Capotondi, actress Francesco Lamon, cyclist Alessandro Troncon, former rugby player
Trieste	47		Friuli-Venezia Giulia	Venice, Musile di Piave, San Donà di Piave, Jesolo, Concordia Sagittaria, Portogruaro, Caorle, Aquileia, Ronchi dei Legionari, Monfalcone, Trieste	Margherita Granbassi, fencer , former basketball player , judoka Giovanna Micol, sailor
Udine	48		Friuli-Venezia Giulia	Trieste, Tarvisio, Gorizia, Gradisca d'Isonzo, Sagrado, Fogliano Redipuglia, Palmanova, Cividale del Friuli, Udine	Rachele Sangiuliano, former volleyball player Lodovica Comello, actress and singer Michele Antonutti, former basketball player Luigi De Agostini, former footballer Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Formula One Driver
Belluno	49		Veneto	Udine, Pordenone, Borgo Palù, Conegliano, Vittorio Veneto, Valdobbiadene, Feltre, Trichiana, Belluno	Francesca Porcellato, cross-country skier, cyclist, and wheelchair racer Monica De Gennaro, former volleyball player Giada Rossi, table tennis player Davide Giozet, tennis player Hudson Williams, actor Connor Storrie, actor
Cortina d'Ampezzo	50		Veneto	Belluno, Farra d'Alpago, Ponte nelle Alpi, Vajont, Longarone, Pieve d'Alpago, Valle di Cadore, San Vito di Cadore, Cortina d'Ampezzo	Giacomo Agostini, former motorcycle racer Carlo Calzà, speed skater
Bolzano	51		Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol	Cortina d'Ampezzo, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lake Misurina, Dobbiaco, Villabassa, South Tyrol Arena, Brunico, Rasun di Sotto, Plan de Corones, Bressanone, Bolzano	Kristian Ghedina, former alpine skier Carolina Kostner, figure skater Tania Cagnotto, diver Gustav Thöni, former alpine skier
Cavalese	52		Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol	Bolzano, Ortisei, Canazei, Campitello di Fassa, Lago di Carezza, Soraga di Fassa, Moena, Predazzo, Cavalese	Cristian Zorzi, former cross-country skier Franco Nones, former cross-country skier Alessandra Reppucci, alpine skier
Trento	53		Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol	Cavalese, Merano, Terlano, Appiano, Caldaro, Baselga di Piné, Mezzocorona, Termeno, Trento	Amos Mosaner, curler , curler Ruggero Tita, sailor Matteo Anesi, speed skater Nadia Battocletti, runner
Livigno	54		Lombardy	Trento, Cles, Lake Tovel, Malè, Croviana, Dimaro Folgarida, Passo del Tonale, Madonna di Campiglio,, Ponte di Legno, Aprica, Livigno	Giorgio Rocca, former alpine skier , freestyle skier , alpine skier Daniel Pedranzini, cross-country skier
Sondrio	55		Lombardy	Livigno, Bormio, Valdisotto, Madesimo, Tirano, Sondrio	Simone Bertini, runner Claudio Pedrazzini, former skier
Lecco	56		Lombardy	Sondrio, Berbenno di Valtellina, Ronco, Ardenno, Varenna, Menaggio, Bellagio, Morbegno, Colico, Mandello del Lario, Abbadia Lariana, Lecco	Nausicaa Dell'Orto, flag footballer Ematoshi, sports commentator Piero Poli, former rower
Bergamo	57		Lombardy	Lecco, Grignetta, Villa d'Almè, Ponteranica, Alzano Lombardo, Nembro, Seriate, Bergamo	Martina Caironi, runner Giorgio Pasotti, actor Paoletta Magoni, former alpine skier
Como	58		Lombardy	Bergamo, Dalmine, Capriate San Gervasio, Trezzo sull'Adda, Paderno d'Adda, Robbiate, Merate, Crespi d'Adda, Vimercate, Arcore, Lesmo, Seregno, Meda, Cantù, Cernobbio, Como	Javier Zanetti, former footballer Alisha Lehmann, footballer Riccardo Moraschini, basketball player Cesc Fàbregas, former footballer
Monza	59		Lombardy	Como, Gallarate, Rho, Busto Arsizio, Castellanza, Legnano, Saronno, Seveso, Desio, Nova Milanese, Muggiò, Lissone, Monza	Paolo Nespoli, astronaut Filippo Tortu, sprinter Arianna Errigo, fencer Diana Bianchedi, former fencer
Milan	60		Lombardy	Monza, Sesto San Giovanni, Cologno Monzese, Vimodrone, Segrate, Pioltello, San Donato Milanese, Milan	Flavia Pennetta, former tennis player Francesca Schiavone, former tennis player Luca Parmitano, astronaut Gianluca Torre, television personality
Milan	60		Lombardy	Milan