The Olympic torch for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is set to tour all 14 regions of Senegal as part of a nationwide relay aimed at bringing the Olympic spirit closer to communities across the country.
The torch will be lit in Athens on September 10 before travelling to Dakar, where hundreds of torchbearers will take turns carrying it through towns and cities across Senegal.
The relay will continue until the Games’ opening ceremony on October 31 at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio.
Held under the theme “Pass the Energy,” the relay will mark the arrival of the Youth Olympic flame on African soil for the first time. It will also promote Olympic values while showcasing Senegal’s rich cultural heritage and the energy of its young people.
The torch journey will begin in the Dakar region, passing through Dakar, Rufisque, Guédiawaye and Pikine before continuing through the country’s remaining 13 regions.
Each stop will feature sporting, cultural and educational activities for the public, with schools playing a central role in the programme. The relay will consist of 14 stages in the Dakar region and 16 stages across the other regions.
Activities will include sports demonstrations, introductory sporting sessions, craft workshops, virtual reality experiences, concerts and performances by local groups. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to meet and take photographs with AYO, the official Dakar 2026 YOG mascot.
The relay will also highlight iconic heritage sites and notable local personalities, while representatives of host communities will deliver speeches at various stages.
A dedicated celebration area will feature a stand promoting the Olympic Civic and Sports Certificate (BOCS), which recorded more than one million beneficiaries between 2022 and 2026.
At each celebration venue, the Olympic flame will be placed in a cauldron near the stage as the centrepiece of the festivities.
The “Pass the Energy” theme represents the passing of Olympic values from one generation to another and reflects the dynamism and aspirations of Senegalese and African youth.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, will make history as the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil.