The 2026 Winter Olympics is happening right now in Milano Cortina, Italy. The Games started February 6 and run through February 22. Fans across the globe want to know where they can watch figure skating, ice hockey, alpine skiing and the brand new ski mountaineering events.
This guide shows you exactly which TV channels and streaming services broadcast the Games in your country. You get complete information about every official broadcaster worldwide.
2026 Winter Olympics Broadcasters & TV Channel List
Find your country below to see your official Olympic broadcaster:
| Country/Territory | Official Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| United States | NBCUniversal, Versant |
| Canada | CBC/Radio-Canada, TSN, RDS |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| Paraguay | ABC TV |
| Latin America | Claro Sports |
| United Kingdom | BBC |
| France | France Télévisions |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF |
| Spain | RTVE |
| Italy | RAI |
| Australia | Nine Network |
| New Zealand | Sky |
| China | China Media Group |
| Taiwan | ELTA |
| Japan | Japan Consortium |
| South Korea | JTBC, NAVER |
| North Korea | JTBC |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Philippines | One Sports |
| Thailand | TrueVisions |
| Vietnam | VTVcab, VTV |
| Myanmar | M Sport/BebeeTV |
| Mongolia | NTV, MNB, TenGer TV, Suld TV, C1, Edu TV |
| Austria | ORF |
| Belgium | RTBF, VRT |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Norway | NRK |
| Denmark | DR, TV 2 |
| Finland | YLE |
| Poland | TVP |
| Czech Republic | ČT |
| Slovakia | STVR |
| Greece | ERT |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Portugal | RTP |
| Romania | TVR |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Serbia | RTS |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Estonia | ERR |
| Latvia | LTV |
| Lithuania | LRT |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Ukraine | Suspilne |
| Moldova | TRM |
| North Macedonia | MRT |
| Georgia | GPB |
| Armenia | AMPTV |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| Albania | RTSH |
| Andorra | RTVA |
| San Marino | RAI |
| Montenegro | RTCG |
| Kosovo | RTK |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Israel | Sports Channel |
| MENA Region | beIN Sports |
| Russia | Okko Sport |
| Kazakhstan | RTRK, Khabar |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Uzbekistan | Sport TV |
| Macau | China Media Group, TDM |
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Central Asia | Infront Sports & Media |
| Southeast Asia | Infront Sports & Media |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Infront Sports & Media |
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 group sets up all the cameras and creates the base coverage that goes out worldwide. Local broadcasters grab this feed and toss in their own commentary and special segments.
Most countries split rights these days between free public TV and paid cable or streaming services. Public broadcasters have to show a certain number of hours for free. Pay TV services throw in extra events and bonus features.
Olympics 2026 Broadcasting Rights by Region
Americas
United States
NBCUniversal holds exclusive U.S. rights through 2036. The network locked down its deal in 2024 for $3 billion. NBC is airing more hours on broadcast TV than any previous Winter Olympics.
You can watch right now on NBC with 5+ hours of daily live coverage. Peacock streams all 116 medal events live. USA Network runs 24/7 Team USA coverage. CNBC tosses in weekend and evening programming. Primetime in Milan gives you 3 hours each night with highlights.
Peacock brings the most complete digital coverage in U.S. history. The service has Gold Zone for quick event switching and Multiview so you can watch multiple sports at once. All these features came back from Paris 2024.
Versant handles Spanish-language coverage for Hispanic viewers.
Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada owns Canadian rights through 2032. TSN and RDS bring extra English and French coverage. You get coverage on TV channels plus CBC Gem streaming and the CBC Sports app.
Mexico
TelevisaUnivision locked down a big deal in February 2025. This Spanish-language giant holds exclusive rights through 2032. Free coverage shows up on Univision and Las Estrellas with at least 200 hours promised. The ViX streaming platform adds more content.
Brazil
Grupo Globo broadcasts through 2032. Main events air on Sportv pay TV channel. CazéTV brings streaming coverage. Globo’s free broadcast network and digital platforms add more viewing options.
Other Latin America
Claro Sports covers most Latin American countries except Brazil. Chilevisión broadcasts in Chile. ABC TV handles Paraguay.
Europe
Europe runs a smart two-part system. Warner Bros. Discovery controls pay TV rights across 49 countries through Eurosport and Discovery+. The European Broadcasting Union grabbed free-to-air rights for public broadcasters in member countries.
Every EBU member has to broadcast at least 100 hours of Winter Olympics coverage for free. This setup makes sure people across the continent can watch without paying.
Italy (Host Country)
RAI brings free-to-air coverage as the national public broadcaster. Warner Bros. Discovery handles pay TV through Eurosport Italia. Italy gets the biggest coverage as the host nation.
United Kingdom
BBC brings total free coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Eurosport adds pay TV options for people who want more events.
Major European Markets
France Télévisions broadcasts in France. ARD and ZDF split German coverage. RTVE handles Spain. Each country runs the same setup with free public broadcasting plus paid Eurosport access.
Other European Countries
Your national public broadcaster brings free coverage. Countries include Austria (ORF), Belgium (RTBF and VRT), Netherlands (NOS), Switzerland and Liechtenstein (SRG SSR), Sweden (SVT and TV4), Norway (NRK), Denmark (DR and TV 2), Finland (YLE), Poland (TVP), Czech Republic (ČT), Slovakia (STVR), Greece (ERT), Ireland (RTÉ), Portugal (RTP) and Romania (TVR).
Eastern Europe gets coverage through Croatia (HRT), Serbia (RTS), Bulgaria (BNT), Estonia (ERR), Latvia (LTV), Lithuania (LRT), Slovenia (RTV SLO), Hungary (MTVA), Ukraine (Suspilne), Moldova (TRM), North Macedonia (MRT), Georgia (GPB), Armenia (AMPTV), Azerbaijan (İTV), Iceland (RÚV), Albania (RTSH), Andorra (RTVA), San Marino (RAI), Montenegro (RTCG), Kosovo (RTK) and Turkey (TRT).
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 keeps its Olympic partnership going. NHK and commercial networks share coverage through 2032.
South Korea
JTBC won a tough 2019 bid for both North and South Korea through 2032. NAVER adds digital streaming in South Korea. The cable network promises 100+ hours of coverage and marks a change from old-school public broadcasting.
Australia
Nine Network owns Australian rights through 2032. Free coverage runs on Channel 9 and 9Gem. The 9Now streaming platform gives free access. Stan Sport brings premium subscription coverage with bonus features.
New Zealand
Sky broadcasts the Games in New Zealand.
Southeast and Central Asia
Infront Sports & Media controls rights for 22 countries. Big markets include Indonesia, Philippines (One Sports also broadcasts), Thailand (TrueVisions), Malaysia, Singapore (Mediacorp), Vietnam (VTVcab and VTV), Myanmar (M Sport/BebeeTV) and Taiwan (ELTA). The package covers Afghanistan (ATN), Mongolia (NTV, MNB, TenGer TV, Suld TV, C1, Edu TV), Kazakhstan (RTRK and Khabar), Kyrgyzstan (KTRK), Tajikistan (Varzish TV) and Uzbekistan (Sport TV).
Macau gets coverage from China Media Group and TDM.
Africa and Middle East
beIN Sports holds broadcasting rights across the Middle East and North Africa region. Infront Sports & Media holds free-to-air and digital rights for Sub-Saharan Africa. Some countries might have their own deals. Israel’s Sports Channel broadcasts there.
Russia
Okko Sport brings coverage in Russia. Russian athletes compete as neutrals under IOC sanctions.
How to Find Your Local Broadcaster
Head to 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 info.
Call your cable or satellite provider about Olympic coverage packages. Lots of them create special bundles during the Games. Ask about both live coverage and replay options.
Public broadcasters usually show big events like figure skating, hockey and alpine skiing for free. Pay TV often adds smaller sports and behind-the-scenes content. Streaming services typically bring the most complete coverage with every event 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 tough new sport. The event adds excitement for mountain sport fans.
NHL players return to Olympic ice hockey after missing PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. The best pros compete for the first time since Sochi 2014. Big rivalries like USA vs Canada and Russia vs Sweden feature top talent.
Italy’s Central European Time zone works great for both American and European viewers. The spot 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 hits new heights for these Games. Almost every broadcaster now has 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) and CBC (Canada) bring free streaming apps. U.S. viewers need Peacock which costs money. 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 change by sport and get announced closer to the Games.
Will all events be shown live?
Most broadcasters show big 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 might only show up on streaming platforms.
Do I need a cable subscription to watch?
Not always. Many countries bring free coverage on public TV channels. U.S. viewers get some events free on NBC but need Peacock subscription for full 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 usually 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 has mobile apps. NBC has the NBC Sports app. BBC brings BBC iPlayer. CBC runs 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 usually take over prime-time broadcasts. Snowboarding, speed skating and cross-country skiing also get solid coverage. Smaller sports like curling, biathlon and ski jumping show up 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 watching the Games today.
