Olympic torch travels through central Milan hours before games
Relay event details
Right before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, relay participants passed the torch in central Milan. The event took place on Thursday, February 5th, as part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay, which completed its 60th stage by traversing the Milanese hinterland.
Final stop and ceremony
The Olympic flame arrived in Milan’s Piazza Duomo, where ballerina Nicoletta Manni lit the flame during the final stop of the relay. The event was broadcast live, with a crowd gathering around the torchbearer at the Piazza Gae Aulenti.
Public reaction
The arrival of the torch in Milan drew both cheers and protests, with environmental groups such as Greenpeace staging demonstrations amid the celebrations.
Route and future plans
The flame will resume its journey on Friday through Milan, passing the San Siro stadium, where the Games’ opening ceremony will be held. This marks the final leg of the torch relay before the official opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics.