The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina officially begin with the spectacular Opening Ceremony on Friday, February 6 at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. This iconic event features the Parade of Nations, cultural performances (including stars like Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli), the lighting of dual Olympic cauldrons (one in Milan and one in Cortina), and the symbolic start to two weeks of winter sports action.
For US viewers, coverage is handled by NBC and Peacock – the exclusive broadcast and streaming partners. Here’s everything you need to know to catch it live or on-demand, timed perfectly for tomorrow’s big spike in interest.
When Is the Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics is on a little later today.
- Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan (with elements extending to Cortina d’Ampezzo)
- Local Time in Italy: Starts at 8:00 p.m. CET (Central European Time)
- US Time Zones:
- Eastern Time (ET): 2:00 p.m. ET (live coverage begins)
- Central Time (CT): 1:00 p.m. CT
- Mountain Time (MT): 12:00 p.m. MT
- Pacific Time (PT): 11:00 a.m. PT
- Duration: Approximately 3 hours
The ceremony kicks off in the afternoon for most US time zones, making it easy to watch live during the day.
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Ceremony on TV (NBC Broadcast)
NBC provides comprehensive coverage:
- Live Broadcast: Starts at 2:00 p.m. ET on your local NBC channel (check listings for affiliates).
- Primetime Encore: An enhanced presentation airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT the same night – perfect for evening viewing with highlights, commentary, and production polish.
NBC is available over-the-air (free with an antenna in many areas) or through cable/satellite providers like DirecTV, Xfinity, or Hulu + Live TV.
How to Stream on Peacock (Best Option for Full Access)
Peacock is the streaming home for the entire 2026 Winter Olympics, including every moment of the Opening Ceremony:
- Live Stream: Begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on Peacock (Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription required).
- Primetime Stream: Encore at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, plus on-demand replays available shortly after.
- Subscription Details: Peacock Premium ($5.99/month or $59.99/year with ads) or Premium Plus ($11.99/month or $119.99/year ad-free) – both give full Olympics access, including live events, Gold Zone multicam, highlights, and more.
- Devices: Stream on smart TVs, phones, tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, gaming consoles, and web browsers at peacocktv.com.
Peacock offers extras like multiview for switching angles and Gold Zone for non-stop action across events.
Free Alternatives & Ways to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Ceremony Without Paying
While full live coverage requires Peacock or NBC access, here are legitimate free-ish options:
- Over-the-Air NBC: If you have a digital antenna, watch the live (2 p.m. ET) or primetime (8 p.m. ET) broadcast for free on local NBC stations – no subscription needed.
- NBCOlympics.com & Apps: Free highlights, clips, recaps, and some ceremony segments available post-event (no full live stream without login/cable auth).
- Trial Offers: Peacock occasionally runs free trials (check current promos) – sign up for a short trial to catch the ceremony, then cancel if needed.
- International Free Streams (with VPN Caution): In countries like the UK (BBC iPlayer) or Canada (CBC Gem), coverage is free, but geo-restricted. Using a VPN to access them violates terms and isn’t recommended.
For the most reliable free viewing, grab an antenna for NBC’s broadcast.
Tips for the Best Viewing Experience
- Tune in early for pre-ceremony buildup and athlete arrivals.
- Use Peacock’s features: Gold Zone for multi-sport glances, multiview on mobile, and on-demand replays.
- Follow along on our site: Build predictions with the Implied Probability Calculator or Parlay Calculator for who shines in the Parade of Nations or early medal events.
Don’t miss the kickoff to Milano Cortina 2026 – the Opening Ceremony sets the tone for epic competition ahead. Stream it on Peacock, catch it on NBC, or tune in free via antenna. For full schedules and more, visit our 2026 Winter Olympics TV Guide!
Resources
- Related SportsBrackets.net Articles:
- 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: Full Details, How to Watch, Performers, Parade of Nations & Printable Program – Milano Cortina Games Kick Off February 6
- 2026 Winter Olympics Live Updates & Results Tracker
- 2026 Winter Olympics Schedule: Full Day-by-Day Calendar & Printable PDF
- 2026 Winter Olympics TV Schedule & How to Watch Guide
- Olympics Hub: Schedules, Printables, Brackets & Guides
- Printable 2026 Olympic Hockey Schedule & Bracket
- Parlay Builder Tool for the Olympics and Super Bowl
