Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Flame Lit in Olympia for 2026 Winter Olympics
The Olympic flame for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina was lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
This special ceremony uses a mirror to catch sunlight and create the flame.
The flame will travel through Italy to the opening ceremony.
There is also a Paralympic flame that will start its journey later.
The ceremony includes dancers and a high priestess who ask the ancient gods for peace and success.
The flame is a symbol that connects the old games to the new ones.
The Olympic flame for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina was lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
The flame is produced using a concave mirror that concentrates sunlight, a method standardized in the 1930s.
The flame will travel through Italy, carried by relay runners, to Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on Feb. 6, 2026.
The lighting ceremony includes a choreographed performance with a high priestess and ensemble, invoking ancient gods for peace and success.
The Paralympic flame will be lit on Feb. 24, 2026, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, and will travel 2,000 kilometers before the opening ceremony on March 6, 2026.
- Who
- Organizers of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
- What
- Lighting of the Olympic flame in Ancient Olympia
- When
- Wednesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Ancient Olympia, Greece
- Why
- To begin the journey of the Olympic torch to the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina
- Event
- Lighting of the Olympic flame for Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
- Location
- Ancient Olympia, Greece
- Date
- Wednesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Journey
- From Olympia to Milan’s San Siro Stadium on Feb. 6, 2026
- Method
- Concave mirror concentrates sunlight to produce the flame
- Ceremony
- Choreographed performance with a high priestess and ensemble
- Paralympic Flame
- Lit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England, on Feb. 24, 2026
- Paralympic Flame Journey
- Covers 2,000 kilometers over 11 days, united with Flame Festivals in Italy