Where to watch Winter Olympics: Live stream Milano Cortina 2026 free from anywhere
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The 2026 Milano Cortina Games are officially underway, and some of the best athletes in the world have descended on Italy for a shot at gold. We've scoured the internet so that you don't have to and compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the Winter Olympics, including free streaming options around the world.
Preliminary Olympic events, including official training sessions and early-stage round-robin match-ups, began on February 4. However, the Winter Olympics didn't officially kick off until the lengthy, iconic Opening Ceremony on February 6. Now, the action is scheduled to pick up heading into the weekend, with some of the first medal events taking place. Can't-miss coverage this weekend includes team event figure skating, preliminary-round women's ice hockey games, and gold medalist Lindsey Vonn competing in the Downhill Alpine Skiing Final despite a recent ACL tear.
The Summer Olympics' frosty counterpart draws massive crowds every four years for sports such as ice hockey, figure skating, luge, snowboarding, curling, bobsleigh, and the whole gamut of skiing events (including the newly added ski mountaineering or "skimo"), among others. Below, we'll make sure you can tune in to all the action, no matter where you are.
Where to watch the Winter Olympics in the US
NBCUniversal holds the US rights to the Olympics, and coverage will air on NBC throughout the Winter Games. USA Network and CNBC will also broadcast select coverage. If you're hoping to have access to absolutely every event, we recommend getting Peacock, which offers a comprehensive live streaming hub for the entire Olympics.
Olympic-friendly Peacock plans include Premium, which costs $11 a month, and Premium Plus, which costs $17 a month. The two tiers offer the same Olympic content, and the main difference between the plans is that Premium offers ad-supported on-demand streaming, which Premium Plus unlocks ad-free on-demand streaming and a 24/7 live stream of your local NBC station.
If you're looking for something with additional channels beyond just those owned by NBCUniversal, then one of the best live TV streaming services might be of interest. You can learn more in our guide on how to watch NBC. Just keep in mind that NBC channels are currently missing from Fubo.
DirecTV is the best overall cable alternative we've tested, and the streamer carries NBC, USA, and CNBC in several of its plans. Signature subscriptions start at $90 a month for the Entertainment plan, but these channels are also available in the cheaper MySports genre pack. At $70 a month, this plan is a sports lover's dream, with around 20 key sports networks and ESPN Unlimited access. All DirecTV plans come with a five-day free trial for new customers.
Sling TV is another solid live TV streaming option and offers a more budget-minded approach. Local channels, like NBC, vary by region on Sling, so you'll want to check what's available in your ZIP code before signing up. If you have access to NBC, you'll need to sign up for Sling Select or Sling Blue. Sling Select (10+ channels) costs $25 a month when local networks are available. Sling Blue (40+ channels) costs $50 a month when local networks are available. Sling Blue also carries the USA Network, so it's your best bet for tuning into additional Olympics coverage outside the main NBC broadcasts.
Where to watch the Winter Olympics in Canada
In Canada, coverage of the Winter Olympics will be available through CBC. This means viewers can catch up with coverage live and on demand through CBC Gem, a free streaming option.
Where to watch the Winter Olympics in the UK
Select Olympics coverage will be available on the BBC in the UK, meaning fans will be able to live stream events for free via BBC iPlayer. British viewers with a valid TV license just need to create an iPlayer account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start watching. Like the Summer Olympics in 2024, comprehensive Olympic coverage is available through a paid service. This year, that's Discovery Plus. Sports-centric subscriptions start at £31 a month, although Olympics coverage should be available in all tiers.
Where to watch the Winter Olympics in Australia
The Winter Olympics will be shown on Channel 9 in Australia and available to live stream via 9Now. This is a free streaming option, which only requires account creation to use. Full Olympic coverage will be available through Stan Sport, which costs $32 a month ($12 for the base plan and another $20 for the Sport option).
How to watch the Winter Olympics from anywhere
If you'll be away from somewhere like Australia or the UK during the Olympics and are still hoping to access your free streaming option, you can do so with the help of a VPN. These virtual private networks are handy tech tools that let you temporarily change your device's virtual location, enabling you to use your favorite websites from anywhere. They're extra popular among those looking to keep up with their usual apps while traveling abroad and upgrade their cybersecurity.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market, thanks to its user-friendliness and 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the service in our official NordVPN review.
Note: VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.