2026 Winter Paralympics torch relay
| Host city | Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy |
|---|---|
| Countries visited |
|
| Distance | 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) |
| Torchbearers | 501 |
| Theme | The Greatest Journey |
| Start date | 24 February 2026 |
| End date | 6 March 2026 |
| Part of a series on |
| 2026 Winter Paralympics |
|---|
The torch relay (Italian: Il Viaggio della Fiamma Paralimpica, lit. 'The voyage of the Paralympic flame') for the 2026 Winter Paralympics, jointly hosted by the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, ran from 24 February to 6 March. Following the lighting of the Paralympic Flame in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, the relay concluded in Verona, Italy, to coincide with the opening ceremony at the Verona Arena.[1] The route for the Paralympic torch relay was presented by the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 on 26 November 2024, one year before the start of the Olympic torch relay, which was unveiled at the same time.[1]
The flame was lit at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the "spiritual birthplace" of the Paralympic movement, as is the case for all Paralympic torches from 2014 onwards.[1][2] The subsequent route in Italy covered 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) over 11 days.[1][3][4] The torch relay involved 501 torchbearers, with applications opening on 12 February 2025.[1][3][5]
On 29 November 2024, Italian comedy trio Gli Autogol were announced as official narrators for the torch relay.[6] The design of the torch was unveiled on 14 April at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, as well as simultaneously in Milan; Osaka and Milan are twin cities.[7][8]
Events
From 24 February to 2 March 2026, the flame was split into five sparks: Milan, Turin, Bolzano, Trento, and Trieste.[3] The flames was then combined in a unifying ceremony in Cortina d'Ampezzo on 3 March.[3][9]
Stops
The subsequent torch relay legs visited Venice on 4 March, followed by Padua the following day; both cities hosted own local celebrations. The relay ended on 6 March in Verona to coincide with the 2026 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony.[3][4]
| Day | Stage | Date | Region | Stops | Notable torchbearers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | From Dolomites to Venice | 4 Mar 2026 | Veneto |
| |
| 2 | From Province of Treviso to Padua | 5 Mar 2026 | |||
| 3 | Verona, gran final | 6 Mar 2026 |
|
Bebe Vio was the final torchbearer at the Opening Ceremony in the Verona Arena: the Paralympic fencer handed over the torchlight to the performers, who then virtually carried it in their hands to Milan and Cortina, where the final torchbearers, Gianmaria Dal Maistro and Francesca Porcellato, lit the Paralympic cauldrons.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Milano Cortina 2026 unveils "Greatest Journey" as Olympic Torch Relay route announced". International Olympic Committee. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Fullbrook, Danny (6 October 2023). "Stoke Mandeville revealed as permanent home of Paralympic flame". BBC News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Paralympic Torch Relay". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ a b Matar, Daniella (26 November 2024). "Olympic flame for 2026 Milan-Cortina Games will go on 63-day journey across Italy". AP News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Torchbearers: applications open from Sanremo". Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Gli Autogol racconteranno il Viaggio della Fiamma" (in Italian). International Olympic Committee. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch at Expo 2025 Osaka". International Olympic Committee. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Winter Olympics torch unveiled in joint ceremony in Milan and Osaka". France 24. Agence France-Presse. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Milano Cortina 2026: Route of the Paralympic Torch Relay unveiled". International Paralympic Committee. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Stages"
- ^ Landoni, Lucia (12 February 2026). "Giada Canino sarà tedofora alle Paralimpiadi: "Premiato il mio impegno contro il bullismo"". la Repubblica.
- ^ "Fuoco e acqua: la fiamma paralimpica illumina Venezia". RAI News. 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Il viaggio della Fiamma Paralimpica è arrivato a Venezia". Comune di Venezia. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Chiara Coltri carrying the Paralympic Flame through the streets of Thiene". Milano Cortina 2026. 5 March 2026.
- ^ "Elisa Giordano with the Paralympic Flame in Padova". Milano Cortina 2026. 5 March 2026.
- ^ a b Bettio, Bianca (5 March 2026). "La fiamma paralimpica illumina Padova, Francesca Tarantella accende il braciere". Padova Oggi.
- ^ a b "Les jumelles Alice et Asia D'Amato se sont transmis la flamme paralympique!". 6 March 2026.
- ^ "Lorenzo Bonicelli, tedoforo nel giorno della Cerimonia di Apertura dei Giochi Paralimpici di Milano Cortina 2026 a Verona: "Mi sento tuttora un atleta"". 5 March 2026.
- ^ a b Pasetto, Elisa (6 March 2026). "Primi tedofori a Verona: «La fiaccola? Un onore. Pochi momenti che racchiudono anni di sogni di ciascun atleta»". L'Arena.