Friday, March 6, 2026, Cortina d’Ampezzo: the historic center comes alive with a new energy.
Voices swirl along Corso Italia, while people cast curious glances at the brazier, which, after spending a few days covered by a white cloth, is now visible again, with its complex system of moving and luminous mechanisms.
The reason for this excitement is tonight’s opening ceremony at the Verona Arena, which will also involve the Queen of the Dolomites.
The flame, in fact, will shine again in the heart of the brazier this evening, after a journey that began on February 24, 2026, in Stoke Mandeville and arrived in Cortina on March 3.
Just three days ago, the five flames lit during the Flame Festivals in Turin, Milan, Bolzano, Trento, and Trieste were effectively reunited during the union ceremony in Largo Poste.
On the morning of March 4th, the flame departed from Auronzo di Cadore and passed through Pieve, Longarone, and Belluno, arriving in the afternoon in Treviso, Mestre, and Venice, where the first celebration was held in Piazza San Marco.
On March 5th, the flame then passed through Castelfranco Veneto, Asolo, Bassano del Grappa, Thiene, and Vicenza, before arriving in Padua in the evening for the second celebration in Prato della Valle.
Finally, today, the flame resumed its journey from Monselice and reached Rovigo, Legnago, Nogara, and Isola della Scala, concluding its journey at the Verona Arena.
A historic event will take place here: paraplegic and quadriplegic pilots from the “Wefly! Team” and “Wings for All” will fly over the Arena: a tribute to sport, inclusion, and the more than 600 competing athletes.
It will be a spectacular and extraordinary moment, held in the year of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, the first ever.
The opening ceremony will begin at 8:00 PM at the Verona Arena, while in Cortina the cauldron will blaze again around 10:00 PM.
