Where to watch Olympics Opening Ceremony: Live stream 2026 Milano Cortina free from anywhere
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The Winter Olympics have officially arrived, and Italy is pulling out all of the stops for the highly anticipated multi-week event. We've gathered all the details on where to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony, including free streaming options.
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will officially run from February 6 to 22, although several events began earlier this week. The Opening Ceremony, held in Milan, will mark the formal kickoff of the event. The ceremony (which typically lasts about three hours) will feature the Parade of Nations, the lighting of cauldrons in both Milan and Cortina, and other Olympic traditions. Additionally, there will be performances from talent such as Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, among others.
Below, you can find everything you need to know about watching the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, including how to stream it free from anywhere. Our team will be covering the entire Olympics, from training rounds to the Closing Ceremony, so make sure to bookmark our Streaming section for additional info over the next couple of weeks.
Where to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony for free
Several regions around the world will offer free broadcasts and live streams of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. In Australia, the ceremony can be live streamed for free on 9Now. In the UK, BBC iPlayer will stream the Opening Ceremony live and free. In Canada, CBC Gem will carry a free live stream of the event. There's no free streaming option in the US, but select streaming services with NBC offer free trials for new customers, like DirecTV's five-day free trial.
How to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony from anywhere
If you're away from any of these locations during the Opening Ceremony, you can still access your free streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that allow people to alter the virtual locations on their electronic devices. This way, their favorite websites work from anywhere in the world. They're popular tools among those looking to use their usual services while traveling abroad or hoping to upgrade their online security and privacy.
NordVPN is one of the best services on the market. It is user-friendly (even for beginners), offers an impressive selection of cybersecurity tools, and has other perks, which you can read about in our NordVPN review. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it's no sweat if it's not what you're looking for.
Where to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony in the US
The Opening Ceremony will air on NBC in the US. There are a few ways to live stream the ceremony, including Peacock, NBCUniversal's direct streaming counterpart. Subscriptions start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium, which unlocks every Olympic event. If you upgrade to Peacock Premium Plus for $17 a month, you unlock 24/7 live streams of NBC and ad-free on-demand content.
If you'd prefer to watch on a live TV streaming service that offers channels like NBC and beyond, some of the best live TV streaming services we've tested will be able to help you out. DirecTV and Sling TV are two of our favorites. You can learn more in our how to watch NBC streaming guide; just keep in mind that Fubo is currently missing NBCU channels.
NBC is available in all DirecTV signature plans, as well as a few of the cheaper genre packs. The cheapest DirecTV option is MyNews, which costs $40 a month and includes about 10 channels. New users can get their first two months for $35 a month. If you'd prefer something with other Olympics channels like the USA Network and CNBC, you can try the $70 a month DirecTV MySports, which offers around 20 channels and access to ESPN Unlimited. All DirecTV plans include a five-day free trial for new customers.
Sling TV also carries NBC, though local channel coverage varies by region, so check what's available in your ZIP code before signing up. If NBC is available in your area, you'll need to sign up for Sling Select ($25 a month, 10+ channels) or Sling Blue ($50 a month, 40+ channels).
Where to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Canada
CBC is the main broadcaster of the Winter Olympics in Canada. Viewers can live stream Opening Ceremony coverage for free through CBC Gem. They just need to make an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start streaming.
Where to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony in the UK
In the UK, the best way to ensure you can live stream all of the Olympics action is through a paid subscription to Discovery Plus. However, select coverage will be shown on the BBC, including the Opening Ceremony, which will air on BBC Two. British viewers with a valid TV license can live stream all of the action for free by signing up for a BBC iPlayer account.
Where to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Australia
The Opening Ceremony will be available through Nine and its free streaming platform, 9Now, in Australia. Users just need to create a free account, and then they're good to go. Other Winter Olympics coverage will also be available through 9Now. To live stream absolutely every event Down Under (and get some other perks), you'll need to sign up for Stan Sport.
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.