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Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026
Carlo Ratti has unveiled his design for the torches for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano.&
The instruments to be used in ceremonies seen across the world are made from either bronze or aluminum, weigh close to 1.06kg (or 2.3 pounds), and can be reused up to ten times by the respective torchbearers in each relay.
Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026
Ratti, who is busy preparing the 2025 Venice Biennale, has chosen to name these torches Essential and says their inspiration has concentrated more on enhancing the ancient symbol of the games than being presented as a singular design object.
Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026
“We were clear from the very beginning: it’s not the torch that matters, but the flame. So, we started thinking about how to design a torch that, in a way, isn’t a torch – and instead emphasizes the power and beauty of the flame,” he reiterates in the design announcement.
Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026
As a follow-up to last year’s conical steel torch designed by Mathieu Lehanneur for the Paris Summer Games, Ratti’s contribution offers yet another sustainable design made from recycled materials. They also stand as testaments to the lineage of design and fine craftsmanship within Italy. The torches will be fueled by a bio-LPG waste product source and come with grips that are made from an ultra-light polymeric material called XL EXTRALIGHT.
A standout feature of the torches will be their specially made iridescent finishes that utilize Physical Vapor Deposition technology for a reflective effect, which is enhanced further by alternating color schemes: Shades of Sky (for the Olympics torch) and Mountains of Light (for one used in the Paralympic Games).
Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026
They were presented to the public for the first time in a simultaneous ceremony hosted by the soon-to-open Triennale di Milano and Expo 2025 Osaka.
Ratti’s turn as curator of the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale officially begins on May 10th. The 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games start on February 6th, 2026, with an opening ceremony held at San Siro Stadium.
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