The organizing committee for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games announced on Monday the full route for the Olympic torch relay, which will cover 12,000 kilometers across Italy from December 6, 2025, to February 6, 2026. The relay will pass through more than 300 municipalities and feature celebrations in 60 cities, covering all 110 Italian provinces. The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, on November 26, 2025, and officially handed over to Italy in Athens on December 4, the Argentine News Agency reported. The relay will begin in Rome on December 6 before traversing all Italian regions, passing through artistic cities, rural towns, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and places of historical importance, Xinhua reported. 'Each stage of the relay will remind the world of the power of sport to build bridges and break down barriers,' stated Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation. The flame will pass by iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Milan Cathedral, and the Grand Canal of Venice. It will also visit areas symbolizing resilience and renewal, such as Amatrice and the Scampia district in Naples. The flame will celebrate Christmas in Naples, New Year's in Bari, and return to Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 26, 2026, the 70th anniversary of the opening ceremony of the 1956 Winter Olympics. The relay will conclude on February 6 at San Siro stadium in Milan. Other relay stops include an ascent to Punta Gnifetti on Monte Rosa (4,554 meters), a visit to the Marmore waterfalls, and a stretch along the Amalfi coast.
