by InTrieste
The Olympic flame of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games will pass through Trieste on Friday, Jan. 23, placing our city among the final stops of a nationwide relay leading to the opening ceremony on Feb. 6, 2026, at San Siro Stadium in Milan.
Friuli Venezia Giulia is the twentieth region to host the flame during its journey across Italy. In Trieste, the relay will cover approximately 8.5 kilometers, starting from the former Local Police barracks at Viale Miramare 65 and concluding in Piazza Unità d’Italia, the city’s central square facing the Adriatic Sea.
A total of 42 torchbearers will take part, each running roughly 200 meters. Three were designated by the municipality: Veronica Toniolo, an Olympic judoka; Giovanna Micol, a sailor from the team that won the first Women’s America’s Cup; and Matteo Parenzan, a Paralympic table tennis champion.
The events will start at 4.30 pm at the Miramare castle. The relay will begin around 5.40 p.m. from the train station, with the lighting of the cauldron in Piazza Unità d’Italia scheduled for about 7:30 p.m. Public celebrations in the square will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Between 5:30 and 6 p.m., piazza unita’ will feature institutional remarks and interviews, including greetings from Elisa Lodi, the city councillor for sport; Mayor Roberto Dipiazza; the president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Massimiliano Fedriga; and contributions from Andrea Marcon, president of the regional Olympic committee (CONI FVG), and Davide Rummolo, a former Olympic bronze medalist in swimming.
The torchbearers’ route will pass through several central neighborhoods and major streets, including Viale Miramare, Piazza della Libertà, Corso Cavour, Via Roma, Corso Italia, Piazza Goldoni, Largo Barriera, Campo San Giacomo, Campo Marzio, the waterfront (Rive), and finally Piazza Unità d’Italia.
The convoy accompanying the flame will extend for about 800 meters. Approximately 60 officers from the Local Police and another 60 members of the Civil Protection service will be deployed. Authorities said no streets will be fully closed, but the relay will require rolling, or “dynamic,” traffic stops, which may result in temporary delays and congestion.
Traffic diversions are planned in several areas, including Barcola, Via Carducci, and the area around Piazza Venezia and Piazza Tommaseo, particularly in the period leading up to the flame’s arrival in Corso Italia. Public transport will continue to operate, though some routes may be temporarily altered.
