After a long journey, the Olympic torch is about to arrive at its final destination.
The Olympic flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, back in April. The torch traveled through various French cities and territories over two months before reaching Paris in July.
LIVE: Follow best moments from 2024 Olympics opening ceremony
Torch-bearers have carried the Olympic spirit across the country, signaling the start of the 2024 Summer Games is nearly upon us. Now, it's time for the Olympic torch to be brought to the Olympic cauldron, officially launching one of the most exciting events in sports.
Here is everything you need to know about the Olympic torch lighting, including TV and streaming options for this year's opening ceremony.
What time is the Olympic torch lighting?
- Date: Friday, July 26
- Opening ceremony start time: 1:30 p.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. Paris time
- Approximate torch lighting time: 5 p.m. ET | 11 p.m. Paris time
The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on Friday, July 26 with the parade of nations along the Seine. That procession will end at the Trocadero, across the river from the Eiffel Tower, where official ceremonies will take place, with the torch lighting as the culmination.
In Tokyo three years ago, the final leg of the torch relay into the stadium began about three hours, 45 minutes into the ceremony, which lasted a little over four hours. The Paris opening ceremony reportedly is scheduled to be a bit shorter, and if it follows the same sequence, the cauldron should be ignited around 11 p.m. local time, or 5 p.m. ET.
Who will light the Olympic cauldron?
Officials have not yet revealed the identity of the person who will carry the Olympic flame to the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. Paris Olympics organizing committee president Tony Estanguet said on July 21 that the final torch-bearer was not yet aware that they had been selected, according to Reuters.
MORE: Who will light the Olympic flame at opening ceremony?
Where to watch Olympics opening ceremony: TV channel, live stream
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Fubo | NBCOlympics.com | NBC Sports app | Peacock
The opening ceremony will air live on NBC. Mike Tirico will serve as the host for the opening ceremony. Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning will join Tirico on the NBC broadcast, and Maria Taylor will interview athletes on the Team USA boat as it floats down the Seine River.
The event will be available to stream on NBC's digital platforms (NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports app and Peacock) and Fubo, which is currently offering a free trial.
Olympics opening ceremony schedule 2024
If you miss the live broadcast of the opening ceremony, you can watch a replay of the event at 7:30 p.m. ET.
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Preview show | Noon-1:30 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Opening ceremony | 1:30-5:30 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Olympics preview | 5:30-6 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Opening ceremony* | 7:30-11:30 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
*Encore presentation
Olympic torch route 2024
- May 8: Marseille
- May 9: Marseille
- May 10: Var
- May 11: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
- May 12: Bouches-du-Rhone
- May 13: Millau-Sete-Montpellier
- May 14: Corse
- May 15: Pyrenees-Orientales
- May 16: Aude
- May 17: Haute-Garonne
- May 18: Gers
- May 19: Hautes-Pyrenees
- May 20: Pyrenees-Atlantiques
- May 22: Dordogne
- May 23: Bordeaux et le libournais
- May 24: Charente
- May 25: Vienne
- May 27: Indre
- May 28: Maine-et-Loire
- May 29: Mayenne
- May 30: Calvados
- May 31: Manche
- June 1: Ille-et-Vilaine
- June 2: Deux-Sevres
- June 4: Vendee
- June 5: Entre Loire et Atlantique
- June 6: Morbihan
- June 7: Finistere
- June 9: Guyane
- June 12: La Reunion
- June 13: Polynesie Francaise
- June 15: Guadeloupe
- June 17: Martinique
- June 18: Alpes-Maritimes
- June 19: Vaucluse
- June 20: Drome
- June 21: Vichy
- June 22: Loire
- June 23: Haute-Savoie
- June 25: Doubs
- June 26: Collectivite Europeenne d'Alsace
- June 27: Moselle
- June 28: Haute-Marne
- June 29: Meuse
- June 30: Marne
- July 2: Nord
- July 3: Pas-de-Calais
- July 4: Somme
- July 5: Seine-Maritime
- July 6: Eure
- July 7: C'Chartres
- July 8: Loir-et-Cher
- July 10: Loiret
- July 11: Yonne
- July 12: Cote-d'Or
- July 13: Aube
- July 14: Paris
- July 15: Paris
- July 17: Aisne
- July 18: Oise
- July 19: Val-d'Oise
- July 20: Seine-et-Marne
- July 21: Val-de-Marne
- July 22: Essonne
- July 23: Yvelines
- July 24: Hauts-de-Seine
- July 25: Seine-Saint-Denis
- July 26: Paris (opening ceremony)
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