Your Complete Guide to Watching the 2026 Winter Olympics
The highly anticipated 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are set to commence later this week, marking a spectacular celebration of winter sports excellence. The official opening ceremony will take place on Friday, but the athletic action actually begins earlier with several preliminary events.
Preliminary Events Kick Off the Games
Before the grand opening ceremony unfolds, audiences can enjoy early competitions in three key disciplines. Curling, ice hockey, and snowboarding events will start on Wednesday 4 February, giving fans an early taste of Olympic drama and setting the stage for the full Games programme.
Comprehensive TNT Sports Coverage
For UK viewers, TNT Sports serves as a primary broadcaster for the entire Winter Games. TNT Sports 2 will launch daily coverage each morning at 8am, providing extensive live action and analysis. Additionally, subscribers can access comprehensive streaming through Discovery+, offering flexible viewing options across multiple devices.
BBC's Extensive Broadcasting Schedule
The BBC continues its long tradition of Olympic coverage with substantial daily programming. All major events will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two between 9am and 10pm each day, ensuring free-to-air access to the most significant moments of the Games.
Additional Streaming Options
For viewers seeking even more Olympic content, the BBC offers Olympics Extra – a dedicated second live stream available through multiple platforms. This supplementary coverage will be accessible on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app, running daily from 8am to 11pm to showcase additional Winter Olympics action beyond the main broadcasts.
This dual-broadcaster approach ensures that UK audiences have multiple ways to follow every thrilling moment of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, from preliminary competitions through to medal ceremonies.
