Milano-Cortina 2026, Olympic flame to reach Florence on 11 December

The modern Olympic torch for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games was formally scheduled as part of a convention between the city of Florence and the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, approved by the municipal council following a proposal from the city’s sports-assessor Letizia Perini.

The torch will be lit in the ancient site of Olympia, Greece on 26 November. It enters Tuscany on 10 December, arriving from the province of Arezzo, travelling via Montalcino, the Crete Senesi, then Montepulciano and Pienza, and reaching the historic centre of Siena on the same day.

On 11 December, the torch arrives at Florence:

• It will travel via the route through San Gimignano and Grosseto, then proceed northwards via Volterra, Pontedera and Empoli.
• In Florence the ceremony takes place in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, where it will be joined by torchbearers assembling from Piazza Pitti.
• The event is scheduled between 17:00 and 19:30 (5 p.m.–7:30 p.m.), culminating in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

After Florence the torch will continue through Tuscany: the next stops include Prato, Montecatini Terme, Pisa, Pistoia, Lucca and Livorno, before temporarily exiting the region and later returning for Carrara and Massa on 9 January 2026.

In her statement, the city’s sports assessor Letizia Perini described the flame as “much more than a simple fire – it is a symbol of fellowship… of putting aside differences to celebrate fair competition and the human spirit.”

The torch design — named “Essential” and created by Italian designer Carlo Ratti — is built of brass and aluminium, designed to resist wind and rain, and is a tribute to Italian design heritage.

The nationwide relay for the Olympics covers approximately 12,000 km, spans 63 days and visits all 20 Italian regions and 110 provinces. 

Practical information for attendees in Florence:

• Date: 11 December 2025
• Time: from 17:00 to 19:30
• Location: Piazza Santissima Annunziata, Florence
• Best vantage points: arrive early, as the event may close streets and increase pedestrian traffic.

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