How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics: streaming guide

The 2026 Winter Olympics are nearly here! This year marks the fourth time Italy has hosted the Winter Games (the last time was Turin in 2006). There will be plenty of fan-favorite sports and even an entirely new one joining the list — snow mountaineering. Here's hoping it sparks another viral moment like the 2024 Summer Olympics' newest sport.

Things officially kick off with the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium on Feb. 6 (though a few events will begin before that). If you don't want to miss a minute of the action, we've compiled all the essential details you need to know to watch live, including which streaming service you'll need and how to score a deal on it.

Let's go, Team USA!

How to watch the 2026 Olympics with or without cable

No cable? No problem. You'll be able to catch all the action with a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription.

A Peacock subscription gives you access to the full NBC broadcast of the Winter Olympics, including Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus a livestream of every single sport, competition, and medal ceremony. You'll also get access to always-on Olympics channels, replays, highlights, documentaries, and nonstop commentary. Basically, Peacock is your one-stop shop for everything Olympics.

If you're watching the Olympic Games in the U.S., keep in mind that Eastern time is six hours behind Milan and Cortina. Some broadcasts will be delayed until primetime, depending on the time zone. If you have cable, you'll be able to watch live competitions throughout the day, as well as enhanced showcase events at night on NBC. USA Network and CNBC will also air Olympics coverage.

A Peacock Premium subscription costs $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without. There are also a few ways to save some money on a subscription, so keep scrolling for the latest Peacock streaming deals.

When and where are the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy from Feb. 6 to 22.

Here are some of the major dates to mark on your calendar:

• Feb. 6: Opening ceremony

• Feb. 7: First gold medal events

• Feb. 8: Gold medal, women's Alpine skiing downhill

• Feb. 13: Gold medal, men's figure skating

• Feb. 18: Gold medal, women's Alpine skiing slalom

• Feb. 19: Gold medal, women's figure skating. Gold medal game, women's ice hockey. First gold medals in ski mountaineering.

• Feb. 22: Gold medal game, men's ice hockey. Closing ceremony.

Which sports are in the Winter Olympics?

Nearly 3,000 athletes will be competing across 16 different sports in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Categories range from skiing and snowboarding to figure skating and hockey. Below is a full list — for more information on each individual sport, head over to the official Olympics website.

• Alpine Skiing

• Biathlon

• Bobsleigh

• Cross-Country Skiing

• Curling

• Figure Skating

• Freestyle Skiing

• Ice Hockey

• Luge

• Nordic Combined

• Short Track Speed Skating

• Skeleton

• Ski Jumping

• Ski Mountaineering

• Snowboard

• Speed Skating

The best Peacock streaming deals

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I've said it before and I'll say it again: the best Peacock deal on any given day is the annual subscription plan. It costs $109.99 (with ads) or $169.99 (ad-free) up front, as opposed to the $131.88 or $203.88 you'll pay if you choose a monthly plan. That ultimately ends up getting you about two months for free — a total savings of $21.89 on the Premium plan or $33.89 with the Premium Plus plan.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts

If you're an Xfinity customer, we highly recommend checking out the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock — you might be able to score a subscription for free.

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• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

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Watch the Olympics in theaters

NBC is bringing the 2026 Winter Olympics to the big screen, so you and your friends can watch the world's greatest athletes go for gold in select theaters. The Opening and Closing ceremonies, as well as NBC’s live daytime coverage, will be available to watch live in theaters across the country. Check out AMC Theatres or Fandango for advance tickets.