The new Olympic and Paralympic torches for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games were revealed in a double unveiling held simultaneously at the Triennale Milano and Expo 2025 in Osaka, whose launch was accompanied by four Olympic and Paralympic champions Stefania Belmondo, Carolina Kostner, Bebe Vio, and Martina Caironi.

Created by the design firm Carlo Ratti Associati and Cavagna Group for Eni and Versalis, respectively Premium Partner and Official Supporter of the Games, both torches feature a minimal, reflective, and iridescent design that highlights the central role of the Flame. “Essential” is more than just a name, it aims to represent a clear design ethos: the torches are streamlined and crafted from recycled materials, from the XL EXTRALIGHT ultra-light polymer used in the handle insert by Finproject, to the renewable bio-LPG flame system, derived from waste oils and residues.

The exterior is finished using PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) technology, creating a mirrored, color-shifting surface that enhances interaction with light and the surrounding landscape. In addition to that, a longitudinal opening reveals the inner mechanics that generate the flame, offering a transparent view of the torch’s core. Color also plays a key symbolic role: the Olympic torch shines in Sky Shades, with blue and green hues, while the Paralympic version features Mountains of Light coloru, glowing in bronze tones.

The “Essential” torches will be displayed inside the Italian Pavilion at Expo Osaka and will be exhibited at the Triennale Milano starting May 2025, where they will remain until the conclusion of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, after which they will become part of the permanent collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Opening image: Olympic and Paralympic torches Milano Cortina 2026. Courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.