LA28 and the International Olympic Committee confirmed on September 29, 2026 that the Olympic Torch Relay for the 2028 Los Angeles Games will travel through all 50 US states before reaching the Coliseum, with the flame's domestic journey beginning in Atlanta. Organizers are calling it one of the largest torch relays in Olympic history, and the full city-by-city route will not be finalized until 2027.
What happened
LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman joined Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Olympic officials at Atlanta City Hall to announce the relay plan. As is tradition, the flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece before arriving in the United States and beginning its domestic leg in Atlanta in spring 2028, 32 years after the city hosted the 1996 Summer Games. From there, the relay will cross all 50 states on its way to Los Angeles for the Opening Ceremony on July 14, 2028.
What we know about the route so far
LA28 has not yet released a city-by-city schedule, but organizers shared a handful of details about how the relay will work:
- 1The relay will stop at major landmarks and cultural and sporting events in select cities along the way, rather than following a single highway route.
- 2Coca-Cola, JPMorgan Chase, Allstate, and Xfinity will serve as presenting partners of the torch relay.
- 3A separate Paralympic Torch Relay will also take place ahead of the Paralympic Games, though its starting city has not yet been announced.
Why Atlanta goes first
LA28 organizers framed the Atlanta start as a tribute to the city's own Olympic history. Wasserman said starting the journey there was meant to honor a city with deep Olympic roots, and organizers described the choice as a way to connect the 2028 Games to the country's broader Olympic legacy before the flame makes its way west.
A tradition with deep roots in Los Angeles
The Olympic flame has visited Los Angeles twice before, lighting the LA Memorial Coliseum's torch tower for both the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games. The Coliseum's distinctive cauldron remains one of the most recognizable symbols of the city's Olympic history, and it is expected to play a role again when the flame completes its cross-country journey in 2028.
LA28 venues guideKey dates to watch
- Flame lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece: traditionally held several months before the Games.
- Domestic relay begins in Atlanta: spring 2028.
- Full city-by-city route announced: 2027.
- Opening Ceremony at the LA Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium: July 14, 2028.
Why it matters for fans
A 50-state torch relay means most Americans will have a realistic chance to see the Olympic flame in person without traveling to Los Angeles, something past US-hosted Games have not always offered at this scale. It also signals that LA28's planning is moving from venues and schedules into the public-facing moments that build excitement in the final stretch before 2028. The full route, once announced in 2027, will be one of the clearest signs yet of which cities and regions LA28 is prioritizing for Games-time programming.
Track LA28 ticket prices now
General on-sale for LA28 doesn't open until 2027, but secondary-market listings for sessions across LA28 venues are already live. Fans who want to see where prices stand can track current listings through GoalTickets.
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