The ceremony for lighting the Olympic flame for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, scheduled for February 6, 2026, will take place inside the Olympic Museum in Ancient Olympia, due to weather-related restrictions. Although tradition requires the flame to be lit outdoors, the ceremony will still follow the lighting ritual with a concave mirror, and the flame lit during the rehearsal will be used in the ceremony.
The IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, will participate in this ritual for the first time, and the flame will be handed over to the first runner, Petros Gaidatzis. The flame will travel through Italy, starting from Rome, and will arrive in Milan on February 6, 2026, on the day of the opening ceremony. The Winter Paralympic Games will take place in Verona, sparking discussions related to accessibility. The Olympic truce will be respected during the games.