The
Studio Carlo Ratti Associati is responsible for the design of the
Olympic torch that will be used in the
2026 Milan Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The piece was presented simultaneously at two major international events: Expo Osaka 2025 and the Triennale di Milano. Using the flame as a central element, the torch was developed with advanced materials that allow it to sustain focus without overshadowing its brightness. "
We wanted to eliminate the superfluous,” said Carlo Ratti, founding partner of CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and director of the MIT Senseable City Lab. “The goal was clear:
the flame had to be the main character. We started from a radical question: what if the torch almost disappeared? What if it receded so that the flame could truly emerge?"
(Studio Carlo Ratti Associati/Divulgação)
Based on this premise, the studio created a
minimalist and functional design. The main body is coated with a high-performance film, heat resistant and applied sustainably. The structure of the torch is mainly made of
recycled aluminum and brass, reinforcing the commitment to sustainability. One of the most striking features is that, for the first time in an Olympic project,
the internal mechanism that ignites the flame is visible. A vertical slot runs along the body of the torch, allowing the public to observe the burner in operation – the place where fire literally originates.
(Studio Carlo Ratti Associati/Divulgação)
The burner is powered by bio-LPG, a gas produced from
100% renewable raw materials, such as used cooking oils and agro-industrial waste. This choice results in a yellow, natural, and warm flame, contrasting with the bluish and cold tones commonly associated with fossil fuels. Another innovative aspect is the torch's ability to
adapt to projects. During the day, it reflects white tones, while at dusk it takes on deep blue hues, visually interacting with the cities it passes through until its return to Italy for the 2026 games.
Thinking about reducing environmental impact,
each torch was designed to be reusable: it can be recharged up to ten times, allowing for the production of only 1,500 units in total. "The biggest challenge was to conceive not just an object, but a phenomenon," Ratti added. "It's not about sculpting metal – it's about shaping fire. Fire is not static. It changes with movement, wind, altitude, and temperature. We had to start from this instability and work backward. That’s what made it so attractive: designing from the inside out, around something living and unpredictable – but ensuring it works flawlessly when the world is watching."
