After all this talk, it’s almost time for action. The 25th edition of the Winter Olympics officially begins on February 6, when the opening ceremony raises the curtain on the games.
The main ceremony will take place at the San Siro stadium, home of Italian football giants Inter and AC Milan. As is tradition, the Olympic cauldron will be lit to mark the start of the Winter Olympics, while we will also get a first look at the athletes taking part.
For the first time, the ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo will hold its own secondary ceremony at the same time as the main event in Milan.
Legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will be part of the San Siro show, with other performers including Mariah Carey and Laura Pausini. The ceremony will be led by creative director Marco Balic, and several heads of state and political leaders will be in attendance.
Here’s where to watch the Winter Olympics opening ceremony live online from anywhere, and potentially FREE.
Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony for FREE
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is available to stream for free in the UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland.
🇫🇷 United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer
🇨🇦 Canada: The crown jewel of CBC
🇦🇺 Australia: 9Now
🇮🇪 Ireland: RTÉ Player
Do you live in the United States? All coverage provided by NBC, USA Network and CNBC is available for free with the 21-day trial for YouTube TV. This will of course include the opening ceremony.
What if you are abroad? Stream the opening ceremony from anywhere in the world using Norton VPN.
How to Watch Any Stream of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Using a VPN
How to watch live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics in the United States
In the United States, the opening ceremony is available via NBC and through Peacock.
You need at least a Peacock Premium subscription to access it, with Peacock pricing starting at $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year.
NBC is available through Sling TV and YouTube TV.
Outside the United States this Friday? To use NortonVPN to access coverage of the Winter Olympics.
How to watch live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in the UK
In the United Kingdom, coverage of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is split between the BBC and Discovery+.
BBC Two will broadcast the opening ceremony, with a live stream available via BBC iPlayer. Remember you will need a UK postcode for a BBC iPlayer account (eg SE1 7PB)
Discovery+ plans start at £3.99/month.
Are you leaving the UK this Friday? Use a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer or Discovery+ from abroad when you’re away from home.
How to watch live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Canada
In Canada, CBC will broadcast the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
It will be broadcast on several channels, including CBC, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, Sportsnet and TSN. The CBC Gem streaming platform is your best port of call.
If you are not in Canada for Milano Cortina, simply use a VPN to connect from abroad.
How to watch live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Australia
In Australia, the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is broadcast on 9Now and Stan Sport. Departure time is 6:00am AEDT Saturday morning.
9Now hosts free coverage of Milano Cortina and is our recommendation.
Are you away from Australia today? Use a VPN to watch 9Now or Stan Sport from abroad.
How to watch live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in New Zealand
In New Zealand, Sky Sport Reviews will broadcast the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
You can access Sky Sport via satellite TV or get a live stream with the Sky Sport Now subscription service, from $29.99 per day or $54.99 per month.
Do you miss Milano Cortina due to work commitments abroad? NortonVPN will unblock access to your home streaming service.
2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony FAQ
What is the schedule for the Winter Olympics?
Friday February 6
– OPENING CEREMONY
Saturday February 7
– Alpine skiing (1 medal events)
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal events)
– Curling
– Figure skating
– Freestyle skiing
– Ice hockey
– Sled
– Ski jumping (1 medal event)
– Snowboard (1 medal event)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Sunday February 8
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Luge (1 medal event)
– Snowboard (2 medal events)
– Speed skating (1 medal events)
Monday February 9
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Sled
– Ski jumping (1 medal event)
– Snowboard (1 medal event)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Tuesday February 10
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (2 medal events)
– Curling (1 medal event)
– Figure skating
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Sled
– Short track speed skating (1 medal event)
– Ski jumping (1 medal event)
Wednesday February 11
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating (1 medal event)
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Luge (2 medal events)
– Nordic combined (1 medal event)
– Snowboarding
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Thursday February 12
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Luge (1 medal event)
– Short track speed skating (2 medal events)
– Skeleton
– Snowboard (2 medal events)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Friday February 13
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Skeleton (1 medal event)
– Snowboard (2 medal events)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Saturday February 14
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Short track speed skating (1 medal event)
– Skeleton (1 medal event)
– Ski jumping (1 medal event)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Sunday February 15
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Bobsleigh
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Skeleton (1 medal event)
– Ski jumping (1 medal event)
– Snowboard (1 medal event)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Monday February 16
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Bobsleigh (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating (1 medal event)
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Short track speed skating (1 medal event)
– Ski jumping (1 medal event)
– Snowboarding
Tuesday February 17
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Bobsleigh (1 medal event)
– Curling
– Figure skating
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Nordic combined (1 medal event)
– Snowboard (2 medal events)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Wednesday February 18
– Alpine skiing (1 medal event)
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (2 medal events)
– Curling
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey
– Short track speed skating (2 medal events)
– Snowboard (1 medal event)
Thursday February 19
– Curling
– Figure skating (1 medal event)
– Freestyle skiing (1 medal event)
– Ice hockey (1 medal event)
– Nordic combined (1 medal event)
– Ski mountaineering (2 medal-winning events)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Friday February 20
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Bobsleigh
– Curling
– Freestyle skiing (2 medal-winning events)
– Ice hockey
– Short track speed skating (2 medal events)
– Speed skating (1 medal event)
Saturday February 21
– Biathlon (1 medal event)
– Bobsleigh (1 medal event)
– Cross-country skiing (1 medal event)
– Curling (1 medal event)
– Freestyle skiing (3 medal-winning events)
– Ice hockey
– Ski mountaineering (1 medal event)
– Speed skating (2 medal events)
Sunday February 22
– CLOSING CEREMONY
– Bobsleigh (1 final medal)
– Cross-country skiing (1 final medal)
– Curling (1 final medal)
– Ice hockey (1 final medal)
Can I watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters offer streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or through your phone’s browser.
You can also stay up to date with all things Autumn Nations on the official social channels on X (@MilanoCortina2026), YouTube (@Olympics) and Instagram (@milanocortina2026).
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy abroad. We do not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consumption of paid pirated content is not endorsed or endorsed by Future Publishing.
