Milano Cortina 2026: Route of the Paralympic Torch Relay unveiled

With less than 500 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, Milano Cortina 2026 has unveiled the details of the torch relay of the Paralympic Winter Games. A total of 501 torchbearers will carry the torch, covering a distance of 2,000 kilometres, before the Paralympic cauldron is lit at the Arena di Verona.

The Paralympic and Olympic torch relays will unite the people in the host country while celebrating the ‘Italian Spirit’.  The Paralympic flame and the Olympic flame will engage new generations and inspire them with the principles of sport.

“Every step of these Greatest Journeys through our cities will become a moment of celebration and reflection, reminding us of the power of sport to build bridges and break down barriers,” said Giovanni Malagò, President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.

“When the flames travel through our streets, they will touch millions with a unique and unforgettable warmth, the kind only sport can convey.”

Paralympic Torch Relay

The Paralympic Flame will be lit at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium on 24 February 2026. Once in Italy, the Paralympic Torch Relay will cover 2,000 kilometres in 11 days, and from 24 February 2026 to 6 March 2026, the day of the Opening Ceremony at the Arena di Verona, the Flame will parade in the hands of 501 torchbearers.

"The Paralympic Flame will be lit on 24 February in Stoke Mandeville in England, the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Movement,” said Maria Laura Iascone, Ceremonies Director at Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.

“Its arrival in Italy will mark the start of a journey that will draw attention and excitement toward the Paralympics, amplifying its messages of respect and inclusivity, and creating a wave of enthusiasm, anticipation and engagement around Paralympic athletes."

After the flame is lit, there will be five Flame Festivals between 24 February and 2 March in Milano, Torino, Bolzano, Trento, and Trieste. The flames will be united at the Flame Unificaition Ceremony on 3 March in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

From 4 March, the Flame will travel to Venezia and Pavoda before entering the Arena di Verona for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

The journey of the Paralympic Flame represents an event of extraordinary importance and significance, not only for Paralympic athletes but for all the communities it will cross. Each stage of the journey will be a unique opportunity to show how sport can be a powerful tool for social change.

Allianz, a longstanding supporter of the Paralympic movement and a promoter of inclusivity and resilience, will be alongside the Paralympic Torch Relay as the Presenting Partner.

Visit the Milano Cortina 2026 website for more information