The Olympics Unveils 2026 Winter Games Logo, Chosen By Public For The First Time
Fans around the world were invited to vote on their favorite logo for the 2026 Winter Olympics. 871,000 votes later, the committee announced the official branding: ‘Futura’ (right). Image via Olympics
When the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed to 2021 and organizers said the 2020 logo would be retained, members of the public balked. Now, for the first time in history, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is passing the baton to the people for the branding for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Last week, the committee presented the official logos for the 2026 games, to be hosted in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The emblem, entitled Futura, got the majority’s vote (75%) between two contending designs in a poll spanning 871,000 entries from 169 countries around the world. The chosen logo edged out an iteration named Logo Dada, per Print Magazine.
Futura, the winning logo, sports the number 26 stylized in ice white and written in a single, continuous line, a nod to the Games’ pledge for sustainability as it pushes to use temporary and existing venues and facilities and eventually become carbon-neutral.
Image via Olympics
The symbol is also a celebration of legacy, and represents Milano Cortina 2026’s goal for economic expansion across Northern Italy.
According to Print Magazine, commercials for the Winter Olympics will feature a child tracing the number 26 on a frosty window, which transforms to offer views of the world of winter sports.
Meanwhile, communications for the Paralympics will show the 26 being decked in red, blue, and green, as well as embody some features of the Aurora Borealis.
Explaining the decision to let the public decide on the forthcoming emblem, Sari Essayah, coordination commission chair of Milano Cortina 2026, shared, “Milano Cortina 2026’s strategy for a people-centric Games builds on the belief that we are stronger together – evident in its engagement of the wider public in this decision-making process.”
She added, “Its determination to make Italy fall in love with the Games and the world to fall in love with Italy has been evident throughout this global initiative. We’re certain this affection will continue to grow over the next five years, inspired by this unique emblem design.”
[via Print Magazine, images via Olympics]
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