Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic cauldron may find permanent home in Milan museum
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games are being celebrated with two identical Olympic cauldrons, one located in Cortina's Piazza Dibona and the other at the Arco della Pace in Milan. Crafted by Marco Balich, Lida Castelli, and Paolo Fantin, these cauldrons represent harmony and pay tribute to the sun. Constructed from aeronautical aluminum, each cauldron has 244 hinge points and 1,440 parts, expanding to a diameter of 4.5 meters. Since February 7, the Milan cauldron has been illuminated hourly from 5 to 11 PM, accompanied by music from Roberto Cacciapaglia, until February 22. It will reignite for the Paralympics on March 6 and will be extinguished on March 15. Mayor Giuseppe Sala hopes it will find a permanent home in a Milan museum, emphasizing that this has been the most-watched Winter Olympics ever.
Key facts
- Two identical Olympic cauldrons for Milano-Cortina 2026 are located in Cortina (Piazza Dibona) and Milan (Arco della Pace).
- Cauldrons designed by Marco Balich with Lida Castelli and Paolo Fantin, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's knots.
- Cauldrons made of aeronautical aluminum, with 244 hinge points and 1,440 components.
- Open diameter: 4.5 meters; closed: just over 3 meters.
- Flame housed in glass and metal container with minimal smoke emissions.
- Arco della Pace cauldron lights up hourly from 5 to 11 PM since February 7, with music by Roberto Cacciapaglia.
- Last show on February 22; relights March 6 for Paralympics; extinguishes March 15.
- Mayor Giuseppe Sala hopes cauldron stays in a Milan museum; possible venues: Museo Scienza e Tecnologia, Triennale, Museo del Novecento.
Entities
Artists
- Marco Balich
- Lida Castelli
- Paolo Fantin
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Roberto Cacciapaglia
Institutions
- Milano-Cortina 2026
- Arco della Pace
- Piazza Sempione
- Piazza Dibona
- Museo Scienza e Tecnologia
- Triennale
- Museo del Design Italiano
- Museo del Novecento
- Arengario
- Assolombarda
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Cortina
- Piazza Sempione
- Piazza Dibona
- Arco della Pace