The torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 were unveiled on April 14 during two simultaneous events held at the Triennale di Milano and the Osaka Expo 2025. Named Essential, both torches pay tribute to Italian design and the commitment to innovation and sustainability, which are key values of this winter edition.

The iconic objects were revealed by four figures from the Olympic and Paralympic world: Stefania Belmondo, last torchbearer in Turin 2006, and Paralympic champion Bebe Vio in Milan, while Martina Caironi and Carolina Kostner were present in Osaka. With a minimalist, elegant, and functional design, the torches received praise for both their aesthetic and their symbolism.

An Italian design for Olympic and Paralympic history

The Essential torches were developed by Studio Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Eni and Versalis, official partners of Milano Cortina 2026. With iridescent finishes, each version is distinguished by its color: teal for the Olympic and bronze for the Paralympic torch. Giovanni Malagò, president of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, emphasized that these pieces are “the embodiment of Italian design” and praised their sophisticated simplicity: “Essentialism becomes a style that is neither minimalism —far from it— nor excessive.”

Both torches will be on display at the Italy Pavilion of the Osaka Expo 2025 and at the Triennale di Milano from May 2025 until the end of the Games. Afterwards, the Olympic torch will become part of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, solidifying its legacy as a symbol of an edition marked by a balance between aesthetics, sustainability, and emotion. Additionally, Coca-Cola renewed its commitment as a partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, while Allianz will serve as the official presenter of the Paralympic Torch Relay.