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who is carrying the olympic torch in 2026

There isn’t a single person “carrying the Olympic torch in 2026” – the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games have a full relay with many torchbearers, and the final cauldron-lighter has not been publicly confirmed yet as of early 2026.

Quick Scoop

What we actually know

From what’s been announced so far, several well-known figures have already taken part in the relay for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics:

  • The relay uses around 10,000 torchbearers in total, including athletes, celebrities, and members of the public.
  • The first torchbearer at the traditional lighting in Olympia was Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, who received the flame in Greece before it began its journey toward Italy.
  • Indian Olympic shooting champion Abhinav Bindra has been officially named one of the torchbearers for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
  • Actor Jackie Chan carried the torch during a relay segment in Italy, including a leg through the ruins of Pompeii, as part of the build‑up to Milano Cortina 2026.
  • The organizing committee has also highlighted a mix of current athletes and pop‑culture figures as torchbearers, reflecting a strategy of blending sport with entertainment to reach younger audiences.

So, instead of asking “who is carrying the torch” as if it were one person, it’s more accurate to say that multiple notable people — Olympic champions, celebrities, and everyday participants — are sharing the role along the route to the opening ceremony.

Has the final lighter been named?

  • The person (or group) who will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony in San Siro has not been definitively announced in official channels yet.
  • There are rumors and forum debates suggesting various high‑profile options, but these are speculative and not confirmed by the Milano Cortina 2026 organizers.

Because that last moment is often kept secret for impact, details are likely to be revealed very close to (or during) the opening ceremony itself.

Forum buzz and “who should it be?”

Online discussions and forums tend to revolve around a few recurring themes:

  • Some fans push for legendary Italian winter athletes, arguing that the final torch‑lighting should honor homegrown Olympic history.
  • Others like the idea of a symbolic multi‑generation relay at the stadium, with several athletes involved in the final sequence rather than one star.
  • There’s also a “pop culture” camp that favors mixing athletes with well‑known entertainers to echo the more entertainment‑driven approach recent Olympics have taken.

These conversations are fun to follow, but they’re not official announcements — they just show how much people care about who gets this symbolic honor.

Current takeaway (2026 context)

  • The torch is already on (or near) its route across Italy toward San Siro, with thousands of people scheduled to carry it.
  • Named participants include Petros Gaidatzis, Abhinav Bindra, Jackie Chan, and various Italian and international sports figures, with more names being revealed in stages.
  • The exact identity of the final cauldron‑lighter for the 2026 Winter Olympics remains unconfirmed publicly and is still treated as a reveal moment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.