Winter Olympics livestream 2026: How to watch the opening ceremony, including free options

It’s time to become an armchair expert on sports that you only think about every four years. In other words, the 2026 Winter Olympics have arrived.

This year’s competition takes place in two Italian cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the surrounding regions. It is not Cortina’s first rodeo, as the city hosted previously in 1956, while the country of Italy has hosted the games three times prior.

The action kicked off on Wednesday, February 4, when the world’s best alpine skiers and curlers strutted their stuff.

Despite the curling, the official Olympic Opening Ceremony takes place today (Friday, February 6). Here’s everything you need to know so you can comfortably coach the players from your couch.

Who is the creative force behind the opening ceremony?

Host countries take the duty of putting on a spectacular opening ceremony very seriously. This also means most of the specific details are kept secret until showtime. This year is no exception to the rule.

Many creatives have collaborated to create the opening ceremonies. Balich Wonder Studio is producing and Maria Laura Iascone serves as the director of ceremonies for the Milano Cortina Foundation organizing committee.

While he can’t get into specifics, creative director Marco Balich explained to Reuters that the theme of the evening is the Greek concept of harmony and, of course, celebrating the host country of Italy.

“We want to show that Italy, though small, has influenced global habits through design, fashion and food,” he mused.

Audiences should be prepared for a big spectacle, spread out for the first time across multiple locations.

The main action will take place at Milan’s historic San Siro Stadium with simultaneous events taking place at Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. At the conclusion, two Olympic cauldrons will be ignited at the Arco della Pace in Milan and in Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Who is performing at the opening ceremony?

A cast of 1,200 volunteer performers, ages ranging from 10 to 70—from 27 different countries—will take the stage. These performers will don 1,400 different costumes and utilize around 1,000 props.

Beyond the volunteers, world-famous musicians and actors will lead their talents to the big event.

Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli are scheduled to perform. Additionally, The White Lotus’s Sabrina Impacciatore, Chinese pianist Lang Lang, and Italian singer Laura Pausini will do their thing.

Let’s not forget Italian actor and film producer Pierfrancesco Favino and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli. The Law According to Lydia Poet’s Matilde De Angelis will narrate the action.

How can I watch or stream the Olympic Opening Ceremony?

To see this technological marvel and cheer on your favorite athlete, all you have to do is tune into NBC, the official channel for all things Olympics.

If you have traditional cable, you’re all set. Cable subscribers can also watch the action on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, or the NBC Sports app.

And remember you can watch NBC for free with an over-the-air antenna, you are set.

You can also watch the ceremony on NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service.

If Peacock is not in your streaming arsenal, consider a live-TV streaming service that carries NBC, such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, or Fubo.

Be sure to double-check regional differences before committing to a new monthly charge, as coverage varies.

What time does the ceremony begin?

The event takes place at 2 p.m. ET. If you’re stuck at work and can’t watch, never fear. NBC and Peacock will re-air the ceremony for a special prime-time event at 8 p.m. ET.