(Il testo seguente è tratto integralmente dalla nota stampa inviata all’Agenzia Opinione) –
///
**MILANO CORTINA 2026: THE DESIGN OF THE TWO CAULDRONS THAT WILL ILLUMINATE THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES UNVEILED**
**For the first time in history, the Cauldrons will be lit and extinguished in perfect synchrony, in two different cities, symbolizing a widespread edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that brings territories and communities together.**
Milan, 20 January 2026 – The design of the two Milano Cortina 2026 Cauldrons has been unveiled.
For the first time in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, two cauldrons will be lit and extinguished simultaneously in two different locations.
The Cauldrons, a powerful symbol of harmony between the two host cities and the territories of the widespread Games, have been created thanks to the partnership with Fincantieri, sponsor of Milano Cortina 2026, and are the result of a project by Marco Balich in collaboration with Lida Castelli and Paolo Fantin.
They will be located in two iconic places: in Milano at the Arco della Pace and in Cortina d’Ampezzo in Piazza Dibona.
They will be lit and extinguished in perfect synchrony, paying tribute to the constant dialogue between the different territories of this widespread edition of the Games.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Cauldrons pay homage to the sun as the primary source of life, energy and renewal.
For centuries a universal emblem of continuity and rebirth, the Flame today becomes the heart of a creation conceived with the future in mind.
The design recalls the genius of Leonardo da Vinci and his famous Knots, geometric interlacing symbolizing the harmony between nature and human ingenuity.
A tribute to Leonardo and his historic connection with Milano, a city that stands as a symbol of creativity and innovation.
Made of aeronautical aluminum, among the strongest and lightest materials, the Cauldrons are dynamic structures that generate an opening and closing movement, bearing witness to the continuity of time and the natural alternation between day and night.
Designed to expand and contract, they reveal and safeguard, like a casket, the preciousness of the Olympic Flame.
The structure features variable geometry, with a diameter that expands from 3.1 meters when closed to 4.5 meters when open.
The complex mechanical system integrates 244 pivot points and 1,440 components, mounted on pins and bearings.
At its core, the Flame is enclosed in a glass-and-metal container and makes use of sustainable scenic effects: no material fallout, low acoustic impact, minimal smoke emissions and complete safety for environments in contact with the public.
The lighting on 6 February will mark the conclusion of the Olympic Flame Journey.
After 63 days across Italy, passing through 60 cities and covering 12,000 kilometers across all 110 provinces of the country.
It will also represent one of the most symbolic and emotionally powerful moments of the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony.
A shared gesture that will officially mark the beginning of the Olympic Winter Games, celebrating unity, continuity and the energy of a new generation of Games.
An unmissable moment, when the Flame will rise to illuminate Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and the world, inviting everyone to be part of this historic occasion.
Starting from 7 February, the Cauldron at the Arco della Pace in Milano will be at the heart of a striking daily event.
The show will last between 3 and 5 minutes and will take place on the hour, every hour, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, open to citizens and visitors.
A ritual that will be repeated every day until the Olympic Flame is extinguished, on 22 February, and will be accompanied by music by Roberto Cacciapaglia.
On 6 March, with the arrival of the Paralympic Flame and on the occasion of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, the two Cauldrons will once again burn for the entire duration of the Games, before being extinguished definitively on 15 March at the conclusion of the Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
