Iran NPC, Tehran:
The 2026 Winter and Paralympic
torches were unveiled at a dual event held in Milan and Osaka on Monday, 14
April, as the countdown continues for next year's Milan-Cortina Games.
Designed by the Carlo Ratti Associati
studio in Turin, the torches were developed by Eni, Premium Partner of
Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
“Essential” torch
The Milano Cortina 2026 torches have
been named “Essential”, highlighting their minimalist design. The Paralympic
and Olympic torches both feature a reflective, iridescent finish but they
differ in colour – the Paralympic torch is in a bronze tone, while the Olympic
torch is in blue-green hues.
The simple form of the torches
enhances the centrality of the flame, striking a perfect balance between
technology, innovation and sustainability.
Essential is a tribute to the
excellence of Italian design. Every detail has been carefully crafted to
express the strength and determination of athletes, as well as their ability to
bring people together through sport.
Each torch is more than just an
object; it is an icon, a fundamental part of the story that Milano Cortina 2026
aims to write, and the legacy it seeks to leave after the Games.
The colours of the torches celebrate
the bond between humans and nature, sport and future. The Paralympic torch
glows with Mountains of Light, honouring the inner strength of Paralympic
athletes and the power of their courage to reshape the world. The Olympic torch
lights up in Shades of Sky, inspired by Italy’s ever-changing landscapes. The
colour represents movement, hope and transformation.
The Paralympic and Olympic torches
will be exhibited at the Italia Pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka and will
also be on display at the Triennale di Milano from May 2025 until the end of
the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Innovation and sustainability
The Essential torches will all be
made in Italy. They are lightweight, weighing approximately 1,060 grams
excluding the fuel cannister, and are primarily composed of recycled materials,
specifically an aluminum and brass alloy.
Sustainability is at the heart of
this iconic object: the torches have been designed with a system that allows
them to be reused and refilled up to 10 times, significantly reducing the
amount of torches required for both relays.
The same attention to detail was
dedicated to the energy source that will fuel the flame. The burner – the
technological core of the torch – will run on bio-LPG, which is made
exclusively from renewable raw materials, mainly waste sources such as used cooking
oil, animal fats and residues from the agricultural industry.
Essential features an open design
that, for the first time, reveals its technological components, allowing
torchbearers and the public to witness and understand how the flame is
generated, unveiling the magic.
Paralympic torch relay
The Paralympic Flame will be lit in
Stoke Mandeville, UK, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. A total of 501
torchbearers will carry the Paralympic torch in Italy, covering a distance of
2,000 kilometres, before the Paralympic cauldron is lit to mark the opening of
the Games.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic
Winter Games take place between 6-15 March 2026.
Tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026
Paralympic Winter Games are on sale at tickets.milanocortina2026.org.
Approximately 89 per cent of the tickets for the Games, which feature six
sports, cost EUR 35 or less.