The 2026 Winter Olympics—officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games—are almost here, promising plenty of winter-sport–related fare to keep you entertained for the next few weeks. Below, find everything you need to know about Milano Cortina 2026, from how to tune in to the major new sport to tune in for:
When are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will kick off on Friday, February 6, and run through Sunday, February 22; a full schedule and breakdown of events by time can be found here.
How can I watch the opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony for Milano Cortina 2026 will begin at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Eastern) on Friday, February 6, featuring special activations (and the traditional parade of delegations, at which speed skater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca will carry the flag for Team USA) unfolding simultaneously in Milan—at the Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium—and in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Among the performers due to appear at the ceremony are Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian rapper Ghali, and actors Pierfrancesco Favino and Sabrina Impacciatore.
Both NBC and Peacock will broadcast live coverage of the opening ceremony.
Where will the 2026 Winter Olympics be held?
The 2026 Winter Olympics have two host cities—Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the Dolomitic Alps—though events will take place all over northern Italy. (As a result, there will also be two Olympic cauldrons this year: one at Milan’s Arco della Pace, the other in Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Piazza Dibona.)
Key venues during the Games include the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena near the Austrian border, the Livigno Aerials Moguls Park in the Livigno Valley, the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, and the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the Val di Fiemme.
What new sports are being introduced at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The one and only new sport being introduced at this year’s Olympics is ski mountaineering (known as “skimo”), in which competitors race uphill and downhill using specialized skis with climbing skins and even hike on foot during one segment. Luge will also expand into women’s doubles from the previous men’s/open doubles format, and a new mixed-team skeleton event will be offered alongside men’s and women’s individual races.
How can I watch the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will air on NBC, but cord-cutters, don’t despair; you can livestream the games on Peacock as well as on NBCOlympics.com.
