The stunning Olympic cauldrons that have captivated visitors in Milan and Cortina during the 2026 Winter Games will be relocated once the flames go out. Both host cities are debating where these popular Leonardo da Vinci-inspired structures should permanently reside.
The destiny of two magnificent Olympic flame cauldrons that have captured worldwide attention during the 2026 Winter Games hangs in the balance as Milan and Cortina officials continue discussions about their permanent locations after the Olympic torch is extinguished.
One thing is definite: these beloved installations won’t stay in their current spots. Both structures, which debuted during the February 6 opening ceremonies in Olympic history’s first-ever dual-city lighting, will be dismantled and moved elsewhere, according to representatives from both municipalities.
Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric “Knots” and designed to represent the sun, these cauldrons blend natural beauty with Renaissance craftsmanship principles.
The Olympic flames burn within sophisticated structures crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum, featuring intricate mechanisms with 244 moving joints and over 1,400 precision-engineered parts that allow them to open and close.
Milan’s cauldron hangs elegantly below the Arco della Pace, a 19th-century victory arch commemorating the historic entrance of Napoleon III and Vittorio Emanuele II into the city following their 1859 triumph at the Battle of Magenta—a pivotal moment in Italy’s journey toward unification.
In Cortina, the cauldron stands tall on a platform in Piazza Dibona, positioned close to the church that anchors this Alpine resort town’s traditional center.
Nightly from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m., spectators flock to both locations to capture photos of the cauldrons and witness an enchanting four-minute display of illumination and music that occurs every hour on the hour. Visitors including families, couples, and tourists pause to experience the audio composition created by Roberto Cacciapaglia.
“The show was great. I watched it from the back, and it was spectacular,” Dominic Bruce, a Games fan from London, told Reuters TV.
Natasha Marchionne made a return visit to experience the display again, explaining: “I came yesterday evening to see it, but since I was filming it with my phone, I didn’t fully enjoy it. I really wanted to see it again tonight without filming it, without my phone.”
Most tourists remain unaware these installations are only temporary fixtures.
“I did not know it would be removed. As a Milan resident, I think it should remain in the city,” said Alessandro, who proposed moving it to Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper masterpiece is housed.
Another spectator, Roberto, described it as having already transformed into “a symbol” and believed it deserves to stay “somewhere visible and appreciated.”
Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala expressed the city’s desire to retain their cauldron, while designer Marco Balich has proposed creating a citizen petition to determine its permanent location.
Potential new homes being considered include the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology—known for displaying significant engineering achievements—or the Palazzo Reale adjacent to the famous Duomo cathedral.
Cortina’s Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi spoke with greater certainty about his city’s plans.
“It is the symbol of the Olympics and we want to keep and promote it,” he stated. “I hope it will be in place by next summer; it must become a landmark of Cortina’s tourist offering.”
He pointed out that while the cauldron from the 1956 Winter Olympics still remains atop the town’s ice arena, its distance from downtown limits its appeal as a tourist destination.
Following the Olympic closing ceremony on Sunday, February 22, both flames will be temporarily put out. The host cities will go without the Olympic fire for several days until a modified version featuring new colors and musical accompaniment is lit for the Paralympic Games running from March 6 through 15.