How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics—and Everything Else You Need to Know

Performers at the ceremony included Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian rapper Galli and actors Pierfrancesco Favino and Sabrina Impacciatore.

Both NBC and Peacock will broadcast the opening ceremony live.

Where will the 2026 Winter Olympics be held?

There are two host cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics – Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomite Alps – but the events will be held across northern Italy. (As a result, there will also be two Olympic flame pools this year: one at the Arch of Peace in Milan and the other in Piazza di Bona in Cortina d’Ampezzo.)

Key venues during the Olympics include the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena near the Austrian border, Livigno Aerial Sports and Mogul Park in the Livigno Valley, the Stelvio Ski Center in Bormio and the Tesero Cross-Country Ski Stadium in Val di Fiemme.

What new sports will be introduced at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The only new sport introduced at this year’s Olympics is ski mountaineering (called “skimo”), in which competitors use specialized skis with climbing skins to race uphill and downhill, and even hike on foot during one of the stages. Luge competition will also be expanded from the previous men’s/open doubles format to women’s doubles competition, and there will be a new mixed team skeleton event alongside the men’s and women’s individual events.