These are the top ways to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics

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The 2026 Winter Olympics, held from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will offer a new viewing experience for

U.S. audiences. Unlike before, all events will be available live and on demand through a single streaming service, eliminating the need for multiple logins, channel surfing, or cable boxes. This makes it easier to follow the Games, whether catching early morning competitions or watching primetime summaries.

For cord-cutters looking for the simplest, least expensive, and least obnoxious method to watch the Winter Olympics, this guide is ideal. We will dissect your options, outline the benefits of each, and assist you in selecting the configuration that best suits your current TV viewing habits rather than your viewing habits from a decade ago.

The breakdown of the transmission

With the U.S. Olympic broadcast rights secured through 2036, NBCUniversal is expanding coverage this year across well-known platforms, including broadcast, cable, and streaming. However, your setup determines how you watch.


NBC will broadcast big daytime events in addition to its regular evening highlight show, this time titled "Primetime in Milan," if you still receive local channels—with a TV antenna, a live TV-streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or (ugh) traditional cable TV. Big-ticket events like figure-skating championships, high-profile hockey games, Shaun White-style snowboarding drama, and the like are held there.

The cable package includes 24/7 coverage from USA Network, CNBC, and a brief resuscitation of NBCSN (NBC Sports Network). A consistent diet of curling, hockey, and in-depth discussions of Team USA is to be expected. If you're paying for a live TV bundle, this is the conventional method of being fully immersed.

The Peacock comes next. Every event can only be seen live there, along with highlight shows, full-event replays, and a ton of other features. This is where you can get the complete Olympic firehose without having to pay for cable.

Option 1: Use Peacock to stream everything
A Peacock membership is the best option if you want to see every Olympic event.
There are two plans that feature sports (the Peacock Select plan, which costs $7.99 a month, does not):

The cost of Peacock Premium is $10.99 per month or $109.99 annually.
Peacock Premium Plus, which costs $16.99 a month or $169.99 per year, includes ad-free on-demand viewing in addition to the live feed of your neighborhood NBC station.

The way you can watch the Olympics is what makes Peacock unique, not just the amount of coverage. Live medal moments are intercut on the Gold Zone feed. You could see it as NFL RedZone for the Winter Olympics. Whether using your phone or TV, Multiview allows you to broadcast up to four events simultaneously. Additionally, you won't find coaching and bench views for figure skating and hockey anywhere else but on the new Rinkside Live cams.

This is the simplest and least expensive way to watch the entire Games if you're a cord cutter who doesn't care about traditional channels.

Although Peacock has consciously discontinued providing free trials for its service, there is a cunning way to obtain a free trial of Peacock Premium: Register for a free trial of Instacart+ to be eligible for a free Peacock trial as well. Additionally, Peacock Premium is a Walmart+ subscriber benefit. For as long as you have a subscription, you can pick between that service and Paramount+, switching between the two as needed. In addition to a 30-day free trial, a Walmart+ subscription costs $12.95 per month or $98 annually.

Option 2: A streaming service for live TV

Live TV streaming services, also known as virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) in the business, provide a means to watch the Olympics without having to give up your favorite channel grid if you like channel surfing and checking what's on "right now." Without the cable box, these services function similarly to cable.

Here is a summary of your top options, arranged by cost:

Blue Sling TV: $45.99 a month. The least expensive choice, however NBC is only accessible in a few locations. If you primarily want cable coverage, it works because you do receive USA Network. Register for Blue Sling TV.

Live TV + Hulu: $82.99/month. includes cloud-based DVR service, as well as NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and the resurrected NBCSN. Enroll in Hulu + Live TV.

Monthly cost of YouTube TV: $82.99. sports streaming in 4K resolution, which can make activities like speed skating or downhill skiing look amazing (albeit at an additional fee of $9.99 per month), and the same channel roster as Hulu + Live TV, but with a stronger cloud DVR feature. Create a YouTube TV account.

DirecTV: $89.99 a month to start. Although it offers the same selection of channels as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live, this service most closely mimics the classic cable TV viewing experience. Enroll in DirecTV.

Because of its ongoing carriage dispute with NBC parent Comcast, Fubo is one live TV streaming service you won't want to sign up for before the Olympics. This is especially regrettable given, in contrast to YouTube TV, Fubo does not impose additional fees for 4K streaming of sporting events.

Although the prices of those other services are more than those of Peacock, you are effectively paying for a classic TV experience wrapped in digital technology. However, live TV streaming services are the best option if you want a grid guide, fast rewind, a DVR, and the flexibility to switch between events as if they were from 2012. This is particularly true if you wish to have both cable and broadcast channels in one location.

Expert advice to make the most of your Olympic experience

Don't miss out on the wonderful things.

The East Coast of the United States is six hours behind Milan. This implies that live events can begin as early as 2 a.m. ET and end by the middle of the afternoon. Peacock's full-event replays are your best buddy if you're not the kind of person who gets up before the dawn to go luge. Your alternative would be to use the cloud DVR that any live TV streaming provider provides.

Improve your image

With NBC's 4K HDR coverage of the Games, fast-action sports like snowboard cross and speed skating appear incredibly clear. You'll need the correct combination to see it: 

#A 4K (or greater) resolution TV or monitor

#A 4K smart TV or a streaming device that supports 4K (see our top selections for media streamers; examples include the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, Amazon Fire Stick 4K, Apple TV 4K, and similar devices).
A 4K streaming service (such as Peacock or YouTube TV with the 4K add-on)

#Use traditional methods to save money.
Do you still have a TV with a tuner built in? You may get your local NBC channel in high definition using a cheap antenna (see our list of the best TV antennas). You may still watch prime-time highlights and major events for free, but you won't have access to USA Network or Peacock's in-depth coverage. It's a wise backup plan, particularly if you're attempting to reduce monthly expenses.

#Use an over-the-air DVR in addition to your TV antenna.
If you can avoid news services' spoilers, you can time-shift when you watch the Olympics by attaching an over-the-air digital video recorder to your antenna and TV tuner. This is because a lot of the action will take place in the early morning hours.

# Avoid paying full price if you don't have to. Peacock provides verified students, first responders and medical professionals, and military personnel with substantial discounts. Although we haven't seen any free trials that stand alone, don't pass up the chance to combine a free Peacock trial with a free trial to Instacart+ or Walmart+ (see links above). Free trials are also available for the majority of live TV streaming providers, but some are longer than others.

Last suggestion: Which play is the best?

Peacock Premium is the way to go if all you want to do is watch the Olympics, live or on replay. It's inexpensive, easy to use, and provides all you need without the hassle of unnecessary channels.


Sling TV (Blue) is your least expensive alternative if you still enjoy leafing through a guide, as long as it provides local channels in your area (you can verify by entering your zip code on the Sling website). You will at least have access to the USA Network if local channels are unavailable. YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV are your greatest choices if neither of those situations suits you.

Trying to cut costs as much as you can? Win by combining a month of Peacock Premium with an over-the-air antenna. The most important events will be broadcast live on NBC, and the remainder will be available anytime you'd want.

Let's start the games.

Your Olympic experience may be quicker, sharper, and far more adaptable with the correct configuration than the traditional TV schedule ever permitted. Simply stream, take in the action, and then resume supporting your preferred underdog in the biathl