LA28 Olympic Torch Relay Will Make History With A Journey Through All 50 States

The Olympic flame is preparing for a journey unlike any it has taken across the United States. On September 29, 2026, organizers of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced that the LA28 Olympic Torch Relay will travel through all 50 states, beginning its American journey in Atlanta before ultimately reaching Los Angeles. The plan gives communities across the country a direct connection to one of the most recognizable traditions in international sports.

Atlanta was selected as the first American stop because of its place in Olympic history. The city hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, the most recent Summer Games held in the United States. Thirty two years after those Games, Atlanta will welcome the Olympic flame back to American soil. The flame itself will first be lit in Olympia, Greece, before beginning its United States journey in spring 2028. Organizers said the complete route will be announced in 2027.

A Historic National Journey For LA28

The scope of the LA28 Olympic Torch Relay is significant. LA28 says this will be the first Olympic torch relay to visit every U.S. state. Organizers plan for the flame to pass landmarks, appear at major cultural and sporting events, and become the centerpiece of celebrations in selected cities. The result will extend the Olympic experience well beyond Southern California and give people thousands of miles from Los Angeles an opportunity to participate in the buildup to the Games.

The relay also connects different chapters of American Olympic history. Atlanta represents the legacy of the 1996 Games, while Los Angeles is preparing to become only the third city to host the Olympic Games three times. Los Angeles previously hosted in 1932 and 1984. The 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled for July 14 through July 30, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 15 through August 27.

That national reach could make the torch relay one of the most visible events leading into LA28. Unlike competition tickets, which bring spectators to specific venues, the relay takes an Olympic tradition directly into communities. LA28 says cities, states, local communities, and participating organizations will play roles in moving the flame toward Los Angeles. Details about individual stops and the process for selecting torchbearers are still being developed.

What The Announcement Means For Olympic Fans

For readers interested in taking part, the most important detail is that many specifics have not yet been released. LA28 says the general public will have an opportunity to be selected as torchbearers through a nomination process, but information about nominations will be announced later. Communities interested in the relay will also learn more after organizers publish the complete route.

The announcement comes as preparations for the 2028 Games continue to accelerate. LA28 reported in July that more than 12 million people around the world had registered for opportunities to purchase Olympic tickets. Registrations came from more than 200 countries and all 50 states, illustrating the scale of interest already surrounding the first Summer Olympics on American soil since Atlanta in 1996.

The Paralympic Torch Relay will follow after the Olympic Games conclude. According to LA28, the Paralympic flame will originate in Stoke Mandeville in the United Kingdom, which is closely associated with the origins of the Paralympic movement. The location where its American journey will begin has not yet been announced.

The Road To Los Angeles Now Runs Through Every State

The September 29 announcement transforms the LA28 Olympic Torch Relay from a traditional ceremonial journey into a nationwide event. Atlanta will provide the symbolic link to America’s last Summer Olympics, while communities across all 50 states will help carry the story toward Los Angeles.

For fans, the key dates to watch come in 2027, when LA28 plans to reveal the full Olympic Torch Relay route and additional participation details. Those announcements should provide a clearer picture of which communities, landmarks, and events will welcome the Olympic flame during its historic journey across the country.

With two years remaining before the Games, the flame now has a planned path to Los Angeles, and for the first time, that path will touch every state in the nation.