How the 2026 Winter Olympics broadcast schedule affects viewers in the US and Canada

Over 116 medal events are happening at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with many broadcast live in the US and Canada.
By Newsroom | Sports, Olympics |

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, are underway, presenting a vast array of sporting events across numerous disciplines. With the competition drawing global attention, understanding where and when to follow specific events is crucial for viewers worldwide. This report details notable scheduled events, broadcast information across different regions, and key locations hosting the games.

Winter Olympics 2026 quick guide: What to watch - 1

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are set to feature approximately 16 sports and around 116 gold medal events. The competition spans 17 days, expecting to host roughly 2,900 athletes from various nations. As of February 17, 2026, 74 out of the 116 medal events had been completed.

Winter Olympics 2026 quick guide: What to watch - 2

Event Hubs and Disciplines

The games are spread across several Italian locations, each hosting specific sports:

Winter Olympics 2026 quick guide: What to watch - 3

  • Cortina d'Ampezzo: This region is the focal point for alpine skiing's technical events, alongside all sliding sports, including bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton. The Cortina Sliding Centre will host 4 events, while other venues in Cortina are assigned alpine skiing events.

  • Livigno: Situated near the Swiss border, Livigno is the venue for freestyle skiing and snowboard events, with the Livigno Snow Park scheduled to host 11 freestyle skiing events and 13 freestyle skiing/snowboard events.

  • Val di Fiemme: This area is a significant hub for Nordic and cross-country skiing disciplines. The Tesero Cross-Country Stadium will stage 12 cross-country skiing events. Predazzo and Tesero, also in Val di Fiemme, will host Nordic Combined (3 events) and speed skating events (5 events).

  • Milan: The Arena di Milano and Palavela in Milan are set to host a variety of indoor sports. The Arena di Milano is slated for 3 events and 2 more in freestyle skiing. The Palavela will host 5 events, and also short track speed skating (9 events).

  • Bormio: This location is set to host 11 alpine skiing events and 5 ski mountaineering events.

Broadcast Rights and Viewer Access

Access to the Winter Olympics varies by region, with official media rights holders ensuring global coverage:

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  • United States: NBCOlympics.com, along with the TV, Web, and App platforms, will provide comprehensive coverage. Peacock is also a key streaming service for live events. Specific broadcasts include curling (various times), freestyle skiing qualifications (4 AM), snowboard qualifications (6 AM), and ice hockey games (10 AM, 12 PM).

  • Canada: CBC will be broadcasting the games, with select events also available via streaming.

  • Australia: Channel 9 is the official broadcaster, with live streaming available on 9Now.

  • Italy: RAI is broadcasting the games, offering free live streaming of select coverage on RaiPlay.

  • United Kingdom: The BBC will provide coverage across its platforms, including BBC iPlayer.

  • Other Regions: A broad network of Official Olympic Media Rights Holders are providing live and on-demand access. This includes services like Rush Sports on Digicel and Flow in various Caribbean nations, and national broadcasters like First Channel in Georgia and TRT SPOR YILDIZ in Turkey.

Notable Scheduled Events

Several key events are scheduled, with specific timings and broadcast channels:

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  • Curling: Women's curling matches featuring teams from China, Denmark, the United States, Great Britain, and Korea were scheduled to begin at 7:05 PM AEDT. Round-robin curling events in the US were scheduled for 2 AM and 8 AM ET on Peacock.

  • Ice Hockey: The men's ice hockey quarterfinal playoff between Germany and Slovakia was set to start at 10:10 PM AEDT. Specific US broadcasts included USA vs. Canada (Men's Group C) at 3:10 PM ET on USA Network and Peacock, and USA vs. Canada (Women's Group A) at 5 PM ET on USA Network. Group play for men's and women's hockey began on February 7th.

  • Freestyle Skiing: Women's aerials qualifications were rescheduled to begin at 8 PM AEDT, subject to weather conditions. Freestyle skiing moguls finals were scheduled for 6 AM ET.

  • Alpine Skiing: Events like the men's and women's downhill races were scheduled for early morning hours ET on February 7th.

  • Speed Skating: Medal events were scheduled throughout the games, with specific sessions at 7 AM ET and 8 AM ET on Peacock.

  • Figure Skating: Various disciplines, including team free programs, pairs short program, and medal events, were scheduled across February.

The schedule for many events is subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, as noted with the women's aerials qualifications.

Expert Analysis

The geographical distribution of events across Milan, Cortina, and Livigno aims to leverage existing infrastructure and scenic landscapes. The focus on specific host cities for distinct sport types, such as sliding sports in Cortina and freestyle in Livigno, potentially streamlines logistical operations. However, the success of broadcast delivery relies heavily on the consistent availability of rights holders and their technical capabilities in reaching diverse global audiences. The broad network of international broadcasters indicates a structured approach to global dissemination, but the experience for viewers may differ based on the specific offerings and access provided by each rights holder.

Conclusion

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are a significant global sporting spectacle, with events distributed across multiple Italian venues. Viewers can access the games through a network of official broadcasters and streaming services, with coverage tailored to different regions. Key disciplines like alpine skiing, figure skating, and ice hockey are drawing considerable attention, with specific event timings and broadcast channels varying by location. The completion of 74 out of 116 medal events by February 17th indicates the competition is progressing through its main stages.

Read More: 2026 Winter Olympics: How to Watch Live TV and Streaming in Your Country

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can people in the United States watch the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Viewers in the US can watch the games on NBCOlympics.com and its TV, Web, and App platforms. Peacock is also a streaming option for live events, showing sports like curling and ice hockey.
Q: What about viewers in Canada?
In Canada, CBC is broadcasting the 2026 Winter Olympics. Select events will also be available to stream through CBC's platforms.
Q: When did the 2026 Winter Olympics start and how many events are there?
The 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place over 17 days and feature about 116 gold medal events across 16 sports. As of February 17, 2026, 74 events had already been completed.
Q: Where are the main sports events happening during the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Sports are spread across Italy, with Cortina hosting alpine skiing and sliding sports, Livigno for freestyle skiing and snowboard, Val di Fiemme for Nordic skiing, Milan for indoor events like figure skating, and Bormio for more alpine skiing and ski mountaineering.