Olympics 2026: How to watch, schedule of events, and everything else you need to know about the Winter Games
Source: Engadget
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are coming up.
(Photo credit: Mattia Ozbot / Getty Images)
The 2026 Winter Games will be held in Italy, with events split between Milan and the Alpine resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. This is the fourth time Italy has hosted the Winter Olympics; the most recent edition was in Turin in 2006.
Of the 16 sports on the program, 15 are returning favorites (figure skating, alpine skiing, curling, ice hockey, speed skating, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, ski jumping, etc.) and one is brand‑new: snow mountaineering. (Will it become as popular as the 2024 Summer Games’ new sport, breaking? Time will tell.)
Live coverage of every event will be available to stream on Peacock. Because Italy is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time, many events will air in the early‑morning hours (2 – 3 AM ET). Primetime re‑airings and select live windows will also be shown on NBC. The Games open with the ceremony on Feb. 6, 2026.
Below is everything you need to know about watching the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Quick Reference
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Feb 6 – Feb 22, 2026 (some competitions start Feb 4) |
| Primary TV channel | NBC |
| Streaming platform | Peacock (live) |
| Opening ceremony | Feb 6, 2026 – 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT (live on Peacock) |
| Closing ceremony | Feb 22, 2026 – Arena di Verona (broadcast on NBC) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
- Opening ceremony: Feb 6, 2026 (live at 2 PM ET).
- Competition dates: Events run from Feb 4 (early competitions) through Feb 22.
- Closing ceremony: Feb 22, 2026, held in the Arena di Verona.
Where are the Games being held?
- Milan – urban venues for ice sports, opening/closing ceremonies, etc.
- Cortina d’Ampezzo – Alpine mountain resort hosting bobsleigh, skeleton, alpine skiing, curling, para‑snowboard, and more.
What channel will broadcast the Olympics?
- NBC will air primetime replays and selected live events.
- Peacock streams every event live (U.S. time zones apply).
How can I watch without cable?
- Subscribe to Peacock Premium (or Peacock Free with ads for limited coverage).
- Use the NBC app/website for primetime re‑airings.
What is the time‑difference impact?
- Italy is 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
- Many events will start between 2 AM – 4 AM ET and finish around 4 PM ET.
- NBC will provide evening re‑plays of the day’s biggest moments.
2026 Winter Olympics TV & Streaming Schedule
All times are Eastern Time (ET). “Live” indicates a Peacock stream; “Primetime” indicates an NBC broadcast.
| Date (ET) | Event | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Feb 4 (early competition) | Curling – round robin | 2 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Curling – round robin | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Alpine skiing – training | 3 – 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Thu Feb 5 | Curling – round robin | 2 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Curling – round robin | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Freestyle skiing – qualifications | 4 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Snowboard – qualifications | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Fri Feb 6 – Opening Ceremony | Curling – round robin | 2 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Figure skating – team short programs | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Snowboard slopestyle – qualifications | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Speed skating – early distances | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Opening ceremony | 2 PM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Opening ceremony (re‑air) | 8 PM | NBC (Primetime) | |
| Sat Feb 7 | Alpine skiing – men’s downhill | 3 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Snowboard slopestyle – finals | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Speed skating – medals | 7 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – team free programs | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Ice hockey – group play begins | 10 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Sun Feb 8 | Alpine skiing – women’s downhill | 3 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Freestyle skiing – moguls finals | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – pairs short program | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Luge – singles runs | 9 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Ice hockey – group play | 12 PM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Mon Feb 9 | Biathlon – sprint | 5 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Speed skating – medals | 7 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – pairs free skate (medals) | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Curling – round robin | 9 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Skeleton – heats 1‑2 | 11 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Tue Feb 10 | Alpine skiing – giant slalom | 4 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Snowboard – halfpipe qualifications | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – men’s short program | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Curling – round robin | 10 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Wed Feb 11 | Nordic combined | 4 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Freestyle skiing – aerials finals | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – men’s free skate (medals) | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Speed skating – medals | 11 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Thu Feb 12 | Alpine skiing – slalom | 4 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Snowboard – halfpipe finals | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – ice dance (rhythm dance) | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Curling – medal‑round qualifiers | 10 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Fri Feb 13 | Biathlon – pursuit | 5 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Figure skating – ice dance (free dance, medals) | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Skeleton – finals | 10 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Ice hockey – quarterfinals | 12 PM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Sat Feb 14 | Alpine skiing – team combined | 4 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Cross‑country skiing – distance race | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Figure skating – women’s short program | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Speed skating – medals | 11 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Sun Feb 15 | Snowboard – cross finals | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Figure skating – women’s free skate (medals) | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Luge – relay | 11 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Ice hockey – semifinals | 1 PM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Mon Feb 16 | Freestyle skiing – dual moguls | 6 AM | Peacock (Live) |
| Cross‑country skiing – team sprint | 8 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| Curling – medal games | 10 AM | Peacock (Live) | |
| … | (Schedule continues through Feb 22; see NBC/Peacock guides for full details.) |
Tips for Watching
- Set a reminder for the early‑morning events (2 – 4 AM ET) if you want to see them live on Peacock.
- Use the NBC app for evening re‑airings if you prefer to watch after work.
- Check local listings for any regional blackout restrictions (unlikely for a national event).
- Consider a “watch party” with friends in later time zones to make the early‑morning schedule more social.
Enjoy the Games, and may the best athletes win!
Additional Daily Highlights
Tuesday, Feb 17
- Biathlon relay – 5 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Speedskating team pursuit – 7 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Hockey (placement games) – 12 PM (Peacock – Live)
Wednesday, Feb 18
- Alpine skiing (final technical events) – 4 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Freestyle skiing – big air – 6 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Curling (gold‑medal match) – 9 AM (Peacock – Live)
Thursday, Feb 19
- Cross‑country skiing marathon – 6 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Snowboard parallel events – 8 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Hockey (bronze‑medal games) – 1 PM (Peacock – Live)
Friday, Feb 20
- Biathlon mass start – 6 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Speedskating final medals – 8 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Figure skating gala – 1 PM (Peacock – Live)
Saturday, Feb 21
- Men’s hockey gold‑medal game – 12 PM (Peacock – Live)
- Women’s hockey gold‑medal game – 3 PM (Peacock – Live)
- Men’s hockey gold‑medal game – 8 PM (NBC – Primetime)
Sunday, Feb 22 – Closing Ceremony
- Cross‑country skiing final event – 6 AM (Peacock – Live)
- Closing ceremony – 2 PM (Peacock – Live)
- Closing ceremony – 8 PM (NBC – Primetime)
More Ways to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on NBC
While Peacock is the primary platform for live Olympic coverage, you can also stream the NBC broadcasts through other services:
- YouTube TV – full NBC lineup, including Peacock live streams.
- Hulu + Live TV – includes NBC and Peacock live.
Note: FuboTV currently does not carry NBC channels due to an ongoing contract dispute with Comcast, so it’s best to skip this service for Olympic coverage until the issue is resolved.
This article originally appeared on Engadget.
Read the full story here