At a Glance
- Two Olympic cauldrons will burn at once in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, a first in Olympic and Paralympic history.
- The sun-shaped structures open from 3.1 m to 4.5 m wide and echo Leonardo da Vinci’s knot designs.
- Lighting happens Feb. 6; extinguishing Feb. 22; Paralympic flame burns March 6-15.
- Why it matters: Fans in two iconic Italian cities will witness simultaneous flame ceremonies, doubling the pageantry.
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games will make Olympic history by igniting two cauldrons-one in Milan, one in Cortina d’Ampezzo-at exactly the same moment.
Organizers announced the unprecedented plan, revealing that both cauldrons will later be extinguished together. The design pays tribute to Leonardo da Vinci, who spent nearly 25 years in Milan and created some of his most celebrated works there.
Design Inspired by da Vinci
Artist and producer Marco Balich crafted the cauldrons as a sun-like structure that mirrors Leonardo’s intricate knot patterns. Each cauldron will open and close, expanding from 3.1 meters to 4.5 meters in diameter. A glass and metal container at the core will hold the Olympic flame.
Locations and Ceremony Schedule
- Milan cauldron: Arco della Pace
- Cortina cauldron: Piazza Dibona
Both cauldrons will be lit simultaneously during the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6. They will burn throughout the Games and be extinguished on Sunday, Feb. 22. The Paralympic flame will occupy the cauldrons from March 6-15.
Nightly Spectacle
Each evening during the Olympics, the Milan cauldron will host a special three-to-five-minute show on the hour, adding a recurring highlight for visitors.
Sophia A. Reynolds reported the details in a release published by News Of Los Angeles.
