Your Best Options for Watching the 2026 Winter Olympics, Including a Free Option
Editor’s Note: This story is from CableTV.com.
Following a successful run in Paris, NBCUniversal is bringing its fan-favorite coverage to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
I’m talking about the return of Gold Zone’s whip-around and multiview program to Peacock. Both are perfectly suited to the viewer-friendly European time zone that brings live sports back to your morning routine.
Since 2002, NBC Sports has produced coverage of the Winter Olympics for US viewers. The 2026 Games mark the arrival of high-tech in the Italian Alps, where the broadcaster will combine regular coverage with more hours of live streaming than any Winter Games in history.
But you don’t need a huge cable bill to catch icons like Mikaela Shiffrin and Jessie Diggins in action. From smart streaming systems to old-school antennas, I’ve broken down exactly how you can watch the Winter Olympics without blowing your budget.
Let’s get you ready to hit the slopes.
What channel is the Winter Olympics on?
The 2026 Winter Games will air on all NBCUniversal and Versant family networks. Although Peacock is still the only place to broadcast the entire event live, casual TV viewers have more options this year thanks to the return of the regular sports channel.
- Peacock: It broadcasts all events live (including all 116 medal events), the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and full replays. It is also home to the Gold Zone show, multiview, and the new Rinkside Live feature.
- NBC: The hosts choose live daytime broadcasts of marquee sports (such as figure skating and figure skating) and Primetime’s signature nighttime show in Milan, covering each day’s key news.
- USA network: It broadcasts 24/7 coverage of Team USA and team sports such as hockey and curling, as well as live streaming of coverage from the mountains.
- NBCSN: The 24-hour sports network is back in time for the Olympics. It is currently available on YouTube TV and Xfinity TV (including two over-the-air channels, NBCSN 2 and NBCSN 3).
- CNBC: It features curling matches in the evening and more live sports coverage during the day.
Want a radio broadcast? You can listen to live streaming of the Winter Games with iHeartMedia. Although not as complete as on TV, coverage is available on NBC Olympics Radio and NBC Olympics Radio Plus via the iHeartRadio app.
When and where are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
You can watch the Winter Olympics from 6th Feb. to Feb. 22. But keep an eye on the schedule ahead of time, as the first rounds and training in sports like curling and skiing start from Feb. 4.
Hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Games’ event sites are spread throughout Lombardy and Northeastern Italy. This marks the fourth time Italy has hosted the Olympics (and its third winter edition).
Remarkably, the resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo is returning to the limelight exactly 70 years after it hosted the Winter Games for the first time in 1956.
Read on to check out the entire TV schedule for Milan Cortina 2026. I tracked every game in a 17-day window to create this master list of dates, event locations, and US channel listings.
2026 Winter Olympics TV schedule
| Sports | Days | Collection | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine skiing | February 4-18 | Cortina and Valtellina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Biathlon | February 8-21 | Cortina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Bobsled | February 12-22 | Cortina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Cross country skiing | February 7-22 | Val di Fiemme | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Curling | February 4-22 | Cortina | Peacock, NBC, CNBC, USA Network |
| Figure skating | February 6-19 | Milan | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Freestyle skiing | February 7-21 | Valtellina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Hockey | February 5-22 | Milan | Peacock, NBC, CNBC, USA Network |
| Luge | February 4-12 | Cortina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Nordic included | February 9–19 | Val di Fiemme | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Short-track speed skating | February 10-20 | Milan | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| A skeleton | February 9-15 | Cortina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Snow jumping | February 5-16 | Val di Fiemme | Peacock, USA Network |
| Snow hiking | February 19-21 | Valtellina | Peacock, USA Network |
| Snowboarding | February 5-18 | Valtellina | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
| Speed skating | February 7-21 | Milan | Peacock, NBC, USA Network |
The best ways to watch the Winter Olympics
With NBC Sports producing US coverage of the 2026 Winter Games, the coverage of the actual event is pretty much the same across all providers. I tested more than a dozen cable, satellite, and streaming services to create this guide, and found that the real differences are price, features, and how quickly you can sign up.
That’s why my top recommendations below are all based on streaming. They allow you to create an account and start viewing immediately.
However, traditional cable is always a solid choice if you rely on a hard-wired connection. Providers like Xfinity and Spectrum carry all the necessary channels and often include Peacock Premium at no extra cost with select plans.
Best of all: Peacock
The Peacock is the definitive TV home for the 2026 Winter Olympics, serving as the only venue where you can broadcast all the events live. Because Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Time, many of the marquee finals will take place while US fans are asleep or at work.
Peacock’s huge on-demand library is a lifesaver here, allowing you to get seamless playback on your system.
But its real advantage is a viewing experience that traditional cable can’t match. As an Olympian living in the Gold Zone during Paris 2024, I’m excited to see this NFL RedZone-style show make its winter debut. It’s the ultimate way to track 116 medal events without touching your remote.
Combine that with multiview and Rinkside Live’s new camera angles for hockey and figure skating, and you have a digital command center built for modern viewers.
Best of all, you get this great breadth of coverage at a fraction of the cost of a live TV program. You’ll need a Peacock Premium subscription ($10.99–$16.99/mo.) to unlock live sports, but it’s a steal for 17 days of non-stop action.
Also, February is a big speaker month. Your subscription also gets you access to Super Bowl LX and the NBA All-Star Game, as well as binge-worthy series like “All Her Fault” and “Poker Face” if you need a break from the slopes.
Best live TV service: YouTube TV
YouTube TV ($82.99/mo.) is a top choice for those looking for a comprehensive live TV service that extends beyond the 2026 Winter Olympics. Although the monthly fee is high, it gives you a solid channel plan that includes your local NBC and Telemundo stations, USA Network, and CNBC.
Most importantly, it features the relaunched NBCSN and its two overflow channels. This is a huge win for serial viewers, providing a deep-dive Olympics that would require a separate Peacock subscription.
The service really shines with its innovative features. You can rely on DVR Unlimited to add every Olympics to your library with one click, essentially building your own, on-demand database.
When you pair that with multi-viewing and the “Main Games” feature, YouTube TV offers a “custom” interface for the Milano Cortina Games.
Best budget live TV option: Sling TV
Sling TV is a viable choice if you want live TV programming for about half the cost of competitors like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo. While it lacks the smooth power of other services, its Sling Blue plan ($45.99/mo.) delivers the essentials of basic Olympic viewing, including the USA Network.
You may also find your local NBC station, depending on where you live. But often, skipping the full list of local channels is exactly how Sling TV stays so affordable. It’s the best way to get access to the grid like cable and live feeds without committing to an $80+ monthly bill.
The biggest compromise comes in features.
The interface is very functional, and the basic plan includes only 50 hours of DVR storage. That space can fill up quickly between the Olympics, so unlike YouTube TV’s freedom to “record everything,” you’ll need to be strategic about saving.
Watch the Winter Olympics for free
Technically, you can’t stream the entire Olympics for free. But you can still watch most of the action without signing up for a new monthly subscription.
My favorite free option is to use an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. This one-time purchase allows you to pick up local broadcast networks like NBC and Telemundo for free. With NBC hosting marquee events and late-night recaps, the antenna gets you a front-row seat to the Olympics’ biggest moments.
If you don’t already have one, our Best Antennas guide highlights top-rated options for every budget.
You can also use the free TV streaming trial to catch events on USA Network and CNBC. I recommend DIRECTV and YouTube TV because they both have the Olympic channels you need. For more options, check out our Free Trial Streaming guide.
How to watch the Olympics internationally
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) owns the global media rights to the Olympic Games and partners with media companies around the world to broadcast the events. This massive distribution strategy ensures a dedicated gaming TV home, no matter where you tune in.
If you’re traveling abroad during the Winter Olympics or want to see how other countries are covering the action, here are the official broadcasters for 10 other major venues. Just keep in mind that because of those strict streaming protocols, you’ll need a VPN to access these streams if you’re outside of the selected regions.
Winter Olympics broadcasters by country:
- Australia (Nine Entertainment)
- Canada (CBC/Radio-Canada)
- China (China Media Group)
- France (France Televisions, Eurosport)
- Germany (ARD, ZDF)
- Italy (RAI, Eurosport)
- Japan (Japan Consortium)
- Mexico (TelevisaUnivision)
- Norway (NRK)
- United Kingdom (BBC, Eurosport)
Why should you trust us
Sports commentator and editor for CableTV.com Taylor Kujawa spent more than a dozen hours dissecting broadcast windows and putting together complete event schedules. He conducted this study to determine which stadiums provide the most coverage for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Drawing on his experience covering multiple Olympic Games, Taylor ranked the top TV providers based on monthly price, content availability, and features. This rigorous analysis ensures that his final recommendations balance ultimate access to Gaming with the best long-term value for your budget.
