How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey: Live stream 2026 Winter Games free from anywhere
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Susana Vera/REUTERS
The Winter Olympics officially kick off on Friday, but the women's ice hockey preliminary round will officially begin the day before. We've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch Olympic ice hockey, including global live streaming options.
Ice hockey has become one of the most anticipated parts of the Winter Olympics over the past 100 years, and the stakes are only heightened after last year's feisty Four Nations Face-Off. Additionally, there's an added layer of hype as it's the first time in over 10 years that NHL players are allowed to compete. Canada dominates ice hockey in both the men's and women's tournaments, but the United States, Finland, and Sweden have also become key fixtures in the Winter Games. The women's preliminary round begins on February 5, while the men's preliminary round games will start on February 11.
Below, you can find all the details on tuning in, including free options. If you're hoping to catch other events, make sure to check out our official where to watch the Olympics streaming guide.
How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in the US
The Olympics will be available through NBCUniversal channels (like NBC, the USA Network, and CNBC) in the US. If you're hoping to catch all of the action, including all preliminary round ice hockey games, we recommend giving Peacock a try. Peacock is NBCU's streaming counterpart and it's the official streaming home of the Winter Olympics. Subscriptions start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium.
How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in Canada
CBC will host Olympic coverage in Canada. This means that viewers can live stream all of the ice hockey action through CBC Gem, a free live streaming option with loads over coverage.
How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in the UK
In the UK, TNT Sports will host all of the Winter Olympics events. Viewers can live stream the action through Discovery Plus, where plans cost £4 a month, £31 a month, or £34 a month. Select Olympics coverage will also be available through the BBC. This coverage can be live streamed for free through BBC iPlayer, which just requires account account creation and a valid TV license to use.
How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in Australia
In Australia, Olympics coverage will be available through 9Now and Stan Sport. 9Now is a free streaming option that just requires account creation to use, but if you're looking to ensure you can watch all games and sports, the comprehensive Stan Sport will be your best bet. Stan costs $12 a month on its own, and the Sport add-on is another $20 a month, making it $32 a month in total.
How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey from anywhere
If you happen to be away from the location where your streaming service works, you can still keep up with your watch options with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that let people alter the virtual locations on their electronic devices. They're popular services among those looking to access their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad or upgrade their online privacy and security.
NordVPN is one of the best options on the market. It's fast, user-friendly, and comes with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more about the service in our NordVPN review.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.