It’s Time! Here Are All the Ways to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Online For Free
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After a long four-year wait, the 2026 Winter Olympics have finally returned, and this time in the beautiful cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. I’m sure it would be a dream to head to Italy to cheer on our favorite team, but most of us on this side of the pond will have to do it from the comfort of our homes. However, now that we live in the age of minimal to no cable, you may be wondering if that’s even a possibility. But when there’s a will, there’s a way — and we gathered all the information you need to watch and stream the 2026 Winter Olympic Games for little to nothing.
The 2026 Winter Olympics officially begin today, Friday, February 6th, and runs through Sunday, February 22nd. But the games can’t begin until the Opening Ceremony happens. It’s this event that kicks off the games and, most importantly, shows unity among all the participating countries. The ceremony will start later this afternoon at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, and you won’t want to miss it. If you can’t catch the live stream, you’ll have the ability to watch the opening ceremony again tonight during prime time.
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics at a Glance
When: From February 6 through February 22
Where: In Milan, Italy
Stream: DirectTV, Hulu + LiveTV, Peacock
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Online
Like I said before, living in the age of limited to no cable can make it really difficult to watch live TV in real time. Luckily, a few platforms are offering the games, and there’s even a chance it could be free. Since NBC is the official home of the games, Peacock will be the top streaming platform. However, you can also watch it through other platforms that offer live TV bundles like Hulu or DirecTV.
WATCH THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS CEREMONY
Peacock
As someone who has Peacock, I would say it’s the premier platform to watch the Winter Olympics. They’ll have all the games available, along with an Olympic hub to keep you on track with past and future events. Peacock’s basic plans start around $8 a month. To watch live sporting events, like the Olympics, you’ll need at least the Premium plan, which is about $11 a month. And if you were thinking of trying Apple TV, you could bundle the two for just an extra $4.
WATCH THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS CEREMONY
DirecTV
Your next best bet to catch the Opening Ceremony will be DirecTV. The satellite company offers both live TV and streaming and is considered one of the best platforms for sports. And nothing is more sporty than the Olympics. With DirecTV, you can start a 5-day free trial, which will give you more than enough time to catch the opening and a few events. But then after that, it starts at $50 for the first month, then increases to about $80 a month after that. But considering you’ll have access to over 90 channels, it could be worth it.
Plus, with the Super Bowl on Sunday, you won’t have to worry about where you can watch the big game as the free trial will cover you from now until then.
WATCH THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS CEREMONY
Hulu + Live TV
Last, but certainly not least, would be Hulu + Live TV. With this option, you get to stream all the shows you know and love from Hulu, as well as access to Disney+ and ESPN. But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll also have access to tons of local TV channels and can watch the Winter Olympics in real time. With this option, you get a free three-day trial, and then it’s about $90 a month.
If you’re in the market for a live TV option, both Hulu and DirecTV are great deals; it just depends on what’ll work best for your budget and what programs you think you and your family will enjoy more right now during the Winter Olympics, but more importantly, after the fact. But whatever you choose, make sure to do so in time to catch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.