Entertainment
How to Watch Athletes From Around the World Compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics
On February 6, the two-week-long Winter Games open with the traditional Parade of Nations at San Siro Olympic stadium in Milan, Italy, hosted by NBC Sports’ Terry Gannon and Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White. Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli will perform during the three-hour ceremony.
Two Olympic cauldrons, their intricate designs inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s knot patterns, will be lit simultaneously, one in Milan, the other in the mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, where some events will be held. (Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie took part in the 7,500-mile torch relay!)
Over the next two weeks, athletes from around the world will compete in everything from Alpine skiing to speed skating. Some of the U.S.’ most promising hopes for medals include reigning world champion figure skaters “quad god” Ilia Malinin, comeback kid Alysa Liu and ice-dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
Other marquee events will feature previous gold-medal-winning skiers, Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin, and snowboarder Chloe Kim.
It’s also your once-every-four-years chance to catch such obscure sports as curling, Nordic combined and luge.
An “enhanced encore” will air in primetime at 8 p.m. ET.
Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony | Friday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m. ET, on NBC and Peacock
