The 2026 Winter Olympics are heading to Italy and fans everywhere want to know how to watch. This guide gives you all the details on streaming every event live no matter where you are in the world. You will find free options, paid services, TV channels and apps that work in your country.
More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete for 195 medals across the snowy mountains and ice rinks of northern Italy. The Games run from February 6 to 22, 2026.
The Opening Ceremony happens at the famous San Siro Stadium in Milan and the Closing Ceremony takes place in the historic Verona Arena. Whether you prefer watching on your TV, phone, tablet or computer, you have plenty of ways to catch all the action.
When and Where is the Winter Olympics 2026?
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics take place from February 6 to 22, 2026. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be the first Olympic Games officially co-hosted by multiple cities.
Key Dates:
- Competition starts: February 4, 2026
- Opening Ceremony: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Closing Ceremony: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Main Venues:
- Milan – Ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, short track
- Cortina d’Ampezzo – Women’s alpine skiing, curling, sliding sports
- Bormio – Men’s alpine skiing
- Livigno – Snowboarding and freestyle skiing
- Val di Fiemme – Cross-country skiing, ski jumping
- Anterselva – Biathlon
- Verona – Closing Ceremony
These Games spread over an area of more than 22,000 square kilometers making them the most geographically widespread Winter Olympics in history. This marks the fourth time Italy has hosted an Olympic Games.
How to Watch Winter Olympics 2026 live online in USA?
NBC and Peacock are the primary platforms for coverage of Milan Cortina 2026. NBC shows at least five hours of daytime coverage every day for free if you have a TV antenna or cable connection. NBC also airs a primetime highlight show each evening called “Primetime in Milan.”
Peacock streaming service costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 for a full year. Every event of the 2026 Winter Olympics streams live and on-demand on Peacock. This means all 116 medal events with full replays available whenever you want to watch them. Peacock includes the Gold Zone feature that jumps between different events as medals get decided. The Multiview option lets you watch up to four events at the same time on one screen.
Peacock runs on Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku devices, Samsung TVs, Vizio TVs and Xbox. You can also watch on your phone, tablet or computer. Cable subscribers get additional coverage on USA Network and CNBC. The time zone works perfectly because Central European Time is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. Most events happen during daytime hours across the United States.
How to Watch Milano Cortina 2026 live stream in UK?
British viewers can choose between free and paid options. The BBC makes more than 500 hours of coverage available on BBC iPlayer. The national broadcaster shows at least two live events daily on BBC One and BBC Two plus highlights packages. You need a valid TV license to watch BBC content legally in the UK. BBC coverage includes the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, major medal events and comprehensive Team GB athlete coverage with expert British commentators.
People wanting every single event can subscribe to Discovery Plus or watch Eurosport. All 116 medal events stream live on Discovery Plus with coverage on Eurosport and TNT Sports in the UK. This paid option gives you access to multiple simultaneous live streams so you never miss your favorite sports. The platform includes full replays, behind-the-scenes content and athlete interviews beyond what BBC offers for free.
How to watch the Cortina Olympics live stream in Canada?
CBC provides more than 2,000 hours of live content completely free. Everything streams on CBC Gem with no subscription required. You can watch on CBC television with an antenna or stream online through the CBC Gem app.
Where to Watch:
- CBC Television (free with antenna)
- CBC Gem app (free streaming)
- cbc.ca/milanocortina2026 (schedules and results)
- CBC News app (Olympic updates)
Daily Shows:
- Morning (6am to 12pm) – Ron MacLean hosts his twelfth Olympic Games with live sports
- Daytime (12pm to 6pm) – Andi Petrillo hosts her seventh Olympic Games
- Primetime (7pm to 11pm) – Best moments recap
- Overnight (12am to 6am) – Live early morning events
CBC creates exclusive content for YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram throughout the Games.
How to Live stream Winter Olympics in Italy?
Italian viewers watch on home soil through RAI and pay services. RAI is the national public broadcaster with free coverage on RAI 1 and RAI 2 television channels. The RAI Play streaming platform offers live streams and on-demand replays at no cost. RAI focuses heavily on Italian athletes competing at their home Games with local perspectives and Italian commentary.
People wanting complete coverage can subscribe to streaming services. All 116 medal events stream live on HBO Max in Italy with additional coverage on Eurosport channels. This gives Italian fans access to every sport and every competition session with multiple viewing options.
How to live stream Winter Games in India?
Indian viewers typically watch through Sony Sports Network which usually holds Olympic broadcasting rights. Coverage appears on Sony Ten television channels with streaming available through the Sony LIV digital platform. India sits in a good time zone for viewing because events in Italy happen during evening prime time hours in India. Check with Sony Sports Network in January 2026 for confirmed schedules and streaming details. Some content may require a cable or satellite subscription while the digital platform might offer standalone streaming packages.
How to live stream Winter Olympics in Australia?
Nine holds exclusive rights across broadcast and streaming through 2032. Channel 9 provides free-to-air television coverage of major events and medal competitions. The 9Now streaming service lets you watch online for free. Just download the 9Now app on your phone, tablet, smart TV or streaming device. Create a free account and start watching without any subscription fees. Stan offers more comprehensive paid coverage as part of Nine’s Olympic package with additional live streams.
Australian viewers face a time zone challenge because events in Italy happen during overnight and early morning hours down under. The streaming platforms help by making full replays available so you can watch at convenient times. Nine Entertainment plans 24/7 coverage across their platforms during the Games.
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics live stream in New Zealand
SKY TV holds the main broadcasting rights for New Zealand. SKY Sport channels broadcast the Winter Olympics on television for SKY subscribers. The SKY Go streaming service lets you watch online and on mobile devices if you have an active SKY TV subscription with the SKY Sport package included.
New Zealand faces the same overnight viewing challenge as Australia. Central European Time is 12 hours behind New Zealand Daylight Time. Most live events happen during Kiwi sleeping hours so the replay features become essential for convenient viewing.
How to watch the Olympics: live stream Cortina 2026 in Germany
German viewers benefit from sharing the same time zone as Italy. ARD and ZDF are the public broadcasters providing free coverage through the European Broadcasting Union agreement. These channels offer at least 100 hours of Winter Olympics programming including Opening and Closing Ceremonies, major German athlete competitions and top medal events with German commentary.
Complete coverage comes through paid services. HBO Max streams every live Winter Olympic event in Germany while Eurosport channels provide linear television coverage. Subscribers get all 116 medal events live with multiple simultaneous streams, full replays on-demand and enhanced viewing features. Germans enjoy real-time daytime and evening viewing since events happen in their same time zone.
List of 2026 Olympics Streaming platforms from other Countries
| Country | Free TV | Free Streaming | Paid Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | France Télévisions | france.tv | Eurosport |
| Spain | RTVE | RTVE Play | HBO Max |
| Netherlands | NOS | NPO Start | Eurosport |
| Belgium | RTBF, VRT | RTBF Auvio, VRT MAX | Eurosport |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR | Play SRG | Eurosport |
| Austria | ORF | ORF TVthek | HBO Max |
| Portugal | RTP | RTP Play | Eurosport |
| Poland | TVP | TVP VOD | HBO Max |
| Sweden | SVT | SVT Play | Discovery Plus |
| Norway | NRK | NRK TV | Discovery Plus |
| Denmark | DR | DR TV | Discovery Plus |
| Finland | Yle | Yle Areena | Discovery Plus |
| Ireland | RTÉ | RTÉ Player | Eurosport |
| Japan | NHK | NHK Plus | DAZN |
| South Korea | KBS, SBS, MBC | Wavve, TVING | – |
| China | CCTV | CCTV Video | – |
| Brazil | Globo | Globoplay | SporTV |
| Mexico | Televisa | ViX | – |
| Argentina | TV Pública | Cont.ar | ESPN, Star Plus |
| South Africa | SABC | SABC Plus | SuperSport |
Check with your local broadcaster in January 2026 for final confirmed details and schedules.
How to live stream Winter Olympics Sports if you’re not in your country?
Streaming services block content based on your location. A VPN solves this problem by changing your internet location and making websites think you are in a different country.
How to Set Up a VPN:
Step 1 – Choose a Service: NordVPN works well for streaming the Olympics because it offers fast speeds and servers in more than 60 countries. Other solid options include ExpressVPN and Surfshark. Most services cost between $5 and $15 per month.
Step 2 – Install the App: Download the VPN app for your device and install it. Log in with your account details. The app shows you server locations around the world.
Step 3 – Connect to Server: Pick a server in the country whose streams you want. US streams need a US server. UK streams need a UK server. Canadian streams need a Canadian server.
Step 4 – Start Watching: Open your streaming service after the VPN connects. The service thinks you are in that country. Start watching the Olympics just like you would at home.
Test your VPN before February 6 to make sure everything works. Keep the VPN running during viewing or your stream will stop. Premium services work better than free options because they offer faster speeds and reliable connections. VPNs are legal in most countries.
FAQs about How to Watch Winter Olympics 2026
Can I watch the Winter Olympics 2026 for free?
Yes. BBC iPlayer streams free in the UK. CBC Gem provides free streaming in Canada. 9Now offers free streams in Australia. NBC broadcasts free in the US with a TV antenna. Most European countries have free public broadcaster coverage.
What is the best streaming service for complete coverage?
Peacock in the US shows every event live. Discovery Plus in Europe offers all events. CBC Gem in Canada streams everything free. Pick the service in your country with the most complete coverage.
Do I need a cable subscription to watch?
No. Peacock works standalone. BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem and 9Now stream without cable. Most countries offer digital streaming independent of cable.
Can I watch the Winter Olympics 2026 in 4K?
Yes. Peacock streams select events in 4K Ultra HD quality in the United States. BBC iPlayer offers 4K coverage for major events in the UK. You need a 4K-compatible device and fast internet connection of at least 25 Mbps. Not all events broadcast in 4K but Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony and popular sports like figure skating and alpine skiing usually get 4K treatment.
Can I watch on my phone or tablet?
Yes. Every major streaming service has mobile apps. Peacock, BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem, 9Now and Discovery Plus all work on iOS and Android devices. Download the app from your app store and log in to start watching. Mobile streaming uses more data so connect to WiFi when possible.
Can I watch replays if I miss events live?
Yes. All major streaming platforms offer full event replays. Peacock keeps replays available throughout the Games. BBC iPlayer holds content for 30 days after broadcast. CBC Gem provides replays for the duration of the Olympics. This helps viewers in difficult time zones catch events they miss overnight.
How much internet speed do I need to stream the Olympics?
You need at least 5 Mbps for standard definition streaming. High definition requires 10 to 15 Mbps. 4K streaming needs 25 Mbps or faster. Multiple devices streaming at once require higher speeds. Run a speed test before the Games start to make sure your connection handles live sports.
Can multiple people watch on one account?
Most services allow multiple devices on one account. Peacock lets you stream on three devices simultaneously. BBC iPlayer works on multiple devices with one TV license. CBC Gem has no device limits. Check your specific service terms for exact details on simultaneous streams.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics run from February 6 to 22 in Italy. Watch through Peacock in the US, BBC iPlayer in the UK, CBC Gem in Canada or 9Now in Australia. Most countries offer both free and paid streaming options for all 116 medal events across 16 sports.
