The 2026 Winter Olympics takes place February 6-22 in Milano Cortina, Italy. Millions of fans worldwide want to know where they can watch their favorite winter sports.
This complete guide shows you exactly which TV channels and streaming services will broadcast the Games in your country. You can find everything from figure skating to the new ski mountaineering events on the right platform.
2026 Winter Olympics Broadcasters & TV Channel List
Find your country below to see your official Olympic broadcaster:
| Country/Territory | Official Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| United States | NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC |
| Canada | CBC/Radio-Canada |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, ViX |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, Sportv |
| United Kingdom | BBC, Eurosport |
| France | France Télévisions |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF |
| Spain | RTVE |
| Italy | RAI, Warner Bros. Discovery |
| Australia | Nine Network, Stan Sport |
| China | China Media Group |
| Japan | Japan Consortium |
| South Korea | JTBC |
| North Korea | JTBC |
| Austria | ORF |
| Belgium | RTBF, VRT |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Norway | NRK |
| Denmark | DR, TV 2 |
| Finland | YLE |
| Poland | TVP |
| Czech Republic | ČT |
| Greece | ERT |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Portugal | RTP |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Estonia | ERR |
| Latvia | LTV |
| Lithuania | LRT |
| Slovenia | RTV Slovenija |
| Slovakia | STVR |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Ukraine | Suspilne |
| Georgia | GPB |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| Albania | RTSH |
| Montenegro | RTCG |
| Kosovo | RTK |
| Israel | Sports Channel |
| Macau | TDM with CMG |
Asia-Pacific Region: Infront Sports & Media covers 22 countries including Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Iran and others.
Africa: Infront Sports & Media holds rights for Sub-Saharan Africa.
India: Rights tender ongoing. Winner to be announced.
How Olympic Broadcasting Works
The International Olympic Committee owns all global broadcast rights for the Olympics. The IOC sells these rights to TV networks and streaming platforms in each country through competitive bidding.
Olympic Broadcasting Services produces the main international feed. This organization sets up all the cameras and creates the base coverage. Local broadcasters take this feed and add their own commentary and extra features.
Most countries now split rights between free public TV and paid cable or streaming services. Public broadcasters must show a minimum number of hours for free. Pay TV services often add extra events and special features.
Olympics 2026 Broadcasting Rights by Region
Americas
United States
NBCUniversal holds exclusive U.S. rights through 2036. The network extended its deal in 2024 for $3 billion. NBC plans to show more hours on broadcast TV than any previous Winter Olympics.
Your viewing options:
- NBC broadcast network shows 5+ hours daily with live coverage
- Peacock streams all 116 medal events live
- USA Network provides 24/7 Team USA coverage
- CNBC adds weekend and evening programming
- Primetime in Milan runs 3 hours each night with highlights
Peacock offers the most complete digital coverage in U.S. history. The service includes Gold Zone for quick event switching and Multiview to watch multiple sports at once. All features return from the successful Paris 2024 coverage.
Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada owns Canadian rights through 2032. The broadcaster provides coverage on TV channels plus CBC Gem streaming platform and the CBC Sports app.
Mexico
TelevisaUnivision secured a major deal in February 2025. The Spanish-language media giant holds exclusive rights through 2032. Free coverage appears on Univision and Las Estrellas with at least 200 hours guaranteed. The ViX streaming platform adds extra content.
Brazil
Grupo Globo broadcasts through 2032. Main events air on Sportv pay TV channel. Globo’s free broadcast network and digital platforms provide additional coverage.
Europe
Europe uses a smart two-part system. Warner Bros. Discovery controls pay TV rights across 49 countries through Eurosport and Discovery+. The European Broadcasting Union secured free-to-air rights for public broadcasters in member countries.
Every EBU member must broadcast at least 100 hours of Winter Olympics coverage for free. This guarantees wide access across the continent.
Italy (Host Country)
RAI provides free-to-air coverage as the national public broadcaster. Warner Bros. Discovery handles pay TV through Eurosport Italia. Italy gets the most extensive coverage as the host nation.
United Kingdom
BBC offers comprehensive free coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Eurosport provides additional pay TV options for subscribers who want more events.
Major European Markets
France Télévisions broadcasts in France. ARD and ZDF split German coverage. RTVE handles Spain. Each country follows the same pattern with free public broadcasting plus paid Eurosport access.
Other European Countries
Your national public broadcaster provides free coverage. Countries include Austria (ORF), Belgium (RTBF and VRT), Netherlands (NOS), Switzerland (SRG SSR), Sweden (SVT and TV4), Norway (NRK), Denmark (DR and TV 2), Finland (YLE), Poland (TVP), Czech Republic (ČT), Greece (ERT), Ireland (RTÉ) and many others across Eastern Europe.
Asia-Pacific
China
China Media Group holds exclusive Chinese rights through 2032. The state broadcaster reaches hundreds of millions of viewers.
Japan
The Japan Consortium continues its Olympic partnership. NHK and commercial networks share coverage through 2032.
South Korea
JTBC won a competitive 2019 bid for both North and South Korea through 2032. The cable network guarantees 100+ hours of coverage and represents a shift from traditional public broadcasting.
Australia
Nine Network owns Australian rights through 2032. Free coverage runs on Channel 9 and 9Gem. The 9Now streaming platform offers free access. Stan Sport provides premium subscription coverage with extra features.
Southeast and Central Asia
Infront Sports & Media controls rights for 22 countries. Major markets include Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei. The package also covers Afghanistan, Brunei, Cambodia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
India
The IOC launched a tender in July 2025 for Indian subcontinent rights. Three packages are available covering TV, digital or both. Viacom18 held Paris 2024 rights. The new winner should be announced before the Games begin.
Africa and Middle East
Infront Sports & Media holds free-to-air and digital rights for Sub-Saharan Africa. Individual countries may have specific arrangements. Israel’s Sports Channel broadcasts in that market.
How to Find Your Local Broadcaster
Visit Olympics.com and click on the official broadcaster section. The site lists every country’s rights holder. You can also check your national Olympic committee website for viewing information.
Contact your cable or satellite provider about Olympic coverage packages. Many create special bundles during the Games. Ask about both live coverage and replay options.
Public broadcasters usually show major events like figure skating, hockey and alpine skiing for free. Pay TV often adds niche sports and extra behind-the-scenes content. Streaming services typically offer the most complete coverage with every event available live and on demand.
What’s New for Milano Cortina 2026
Ski mountaineering joins the Olympic program for the first time. Athletes climb uphill on skis then race downhill in this demanding new sport. The event adds excitement for mountain sport fans.
NHL players return to Olympic ice hockey after missing three Games. The best professional players compete for the first time since Sochi 2014. Rivalries like USA vs Canada and Russia vs Sweden will feature the top talent.
Italy’s Central European Time zone benefits both American and European viewers. The location sits 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time. This matches the Paris 2024 schedule that worked so well. Americans get live morning and afternoon coverage. Europeans watch during their prime evening hours.
Digital streaming reaches new heights for these Games. Almost every broadcaster now offers apps with live streaming, replays, multiple camera angles and highlights. You can watch on phones, tablets, computers or smart TVs.
Winter Olympics 2026 TV Coverage FAQs
Can I stream the 2026 Winter Olympics for free?
Yes in many countries. Public broadcasters like BBC (UK), RAI (Italy), CBC (Canada) and others offer free streaming apps. U.S. viewers need Peacock which requires a subscription. Check your national broadcaster’s website for free streaming options.
What time do the Winter Olympics 2026 start?
The Opening Ceremony takes place February 6, 2026 at San Siro Stadium in Milan. Competition begins the same day. The Games run through February 22, 2026. Exact event times vary by sport and will be announced closer to the Games.
Will all events be shown live?
Most broadcasters show major events live. Streaming services like Peacock (U.S.), 9Now (Australia) and CBC Gem (Canada) stream every event live. TV networks focus on popular sports during their broadcast hours. Smaller sports may only appear on streaming platforms.
Do I need a cable subscription to watch?
Not always. Many countries offer free coverage on public TV channels. U.S. viewers get some events free on NBC but need Peacock subscription for complete coverage. European viewers can watch free on national public broadcasters. Cable adds extra coverage options.
Where can I watch the Paralympic Winter Games?
The same broadcasters that show the Olympics typically cover the Paralympics. The Paralympic Winter Games run March 6-15, 2026. Check with your Olympic broadcaster for specific Paralympic coverage plans.
Can I watch on my phone or tablet?
Yes. Almost every broadcaster now offers mobile apps. NBC has the NBC Sports app. BBC offers BBC iPlayer. CBC provides the CBC Sports app. Download your broadcaster’s app before the Games start.
What sports get the most TV coverage?
Figure skating, alpine skiing and ice hockey typically dominate prime-time broadcasts. Snowboarding, speed skating and cross-country skiing also get significant coverage. Niche sports like curling, biathlon and ski jumping appear more on streaming platforms than broadcast TV.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics brings world-class winter sports to viewers in every country through dedicated broadcasters. Check the table above to find your channel and start planning your viewing schedule for February.
