The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Torch Relay will make history by traveling through all 50 U.S. states before reaching Los Angeles for the Summer Olympics.
LA28 announced the plans on September 29th, 2026, with Atlanta selected as the starting point for the Olympic flame’s U.S. journey. Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, making it the last U.S. city to host a Summer Olympic Games before Los Angeles takes over in 2028.
The announcement marks the beginning of the planning process for the relay. The Olympic flame itself will not arrive in the United States until spring 2028. The flame will first be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, before traveling to the United States. From Atlanta, it will begin a nationwide journey that LA28 says will visit all 50 states.
Full Route Coming in 2027
The complete route for the LA28 Olympic Torch Relay is expected to be announced in 2027. LA28 says the relay will pass through iconic landmarks, major cultural and sporting events and select cities that will host festival celebrations. Cities, states, communities and partners will participate in the journey as the flame makes its way toward Los Angeles.
The return to Atlanta will also connect the 2028 Games with the city’s Olympic history. Thirty-two years after the flame from the 1996 Games was extinguished, Atlanta will once again welcome the Olympic flame before sending it onward toward Los Angeles. More information about torchbearer nominations and participating communities will be announced in the coming months.
Four Major Partners Supporting the Relay
Coca-Cola, JPMorganChase, Allstate and Xfinity will serve as presenting partners of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. The companies will participate in various aspects of the nationwide journey, including the selection of certain torchbearers and stops at partner locations.
The Paralympic Torch Relay will take place after the Olympic Games conclude in August 2028. Its flame will originate in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. The U.S. starting location for that relay has not yet been announced.
The LA28 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in 2028, with the torch relay providing a nationwide lead-up to the Opening Ceremony.