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The 2026 Winter Olympics has finally begun. Fans of hockey, figure skating, curling and snowboarding can already start cheering on their country, but the “start” of the Olympics happens today, Feb. 6, during the Opening Ceremony. The grand spectacle often features a large event held by the host country, celebrating their history, honoring the athletes from each country and lighting the Olympic flame, which Snoop Dogg already took part in.
Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, At a Glance:
The Milan Cortina Olympics inauguration will held mainly in Milan’s 76,000-capacity San Siro stadium, which is often referred to as the La Scala of Football, in reference to the city’s famed opera house and the venue’s association with legendary soccer matches. However, for the first time at the Olympics history, the event will feature multiple locations during the Opening Ceremony. Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the game’s host cities and around 250 miles northeast of Milan, will also stage a celebration of its own.
Who’s performing at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The Opening Ceremony will be headlined by six-time Grammy award winner Mariah Carey and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Joining them to usher in the games will be Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Italian actor Sabrina Impacciatore, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, opera star Cecilia Bartoli and rapper Ghali.
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Online for Free
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan will broadcast on NBC, USA Network, CNBC and NBCSN. The best way to stream the event is the channel’s official streaming platform, Peacock. While there is no free trial for new users, the platform offers affordable plans starting at just $10.99 per month, or an annual plan for $109.99 per year (which gets you 12 months of streaming for the price of 10).
DIRECTV
With DIRECTV, new subscribers can take advantage of a 5-day free trial, so you can watch a week’s worth of Olympic games live and for free. The streaming platform carrier every network broadcasting the 2026 Winter Olympics and the Opening Ceremony, so you’ll never miss a sports moment. With so many different sports happening. DIRECT offers unlimited DVR storage so you can record, save and watch your favorite olympic moments whenever you’d like.
Hulu + Live TV
For the most content offerings, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV and get access to the Hulu library in addition to more then 95 live TV channels (including NBC). The streaming platform starts at $89.99 per month, but there’s also 3-day free trial for new users.
And, for even more programming, Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited, which gives you everything within the Hulu library, in addition to exclusive content on ESPN for even more sports coverage.
Sling TV
Sling TV offers the Blue package, which comes with NBC, USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW, Bravo and others. Blue is one of the most affordable options and comes with more than 40 channels and can be streamed on up to three device at a time. Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from market-to-market.
