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The Olympics Rings ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
Richard Heathcote/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will kick off with an opening ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6
- Fans can watch the festivities on NBC or stream them live from Peacock and NBC's apps
- Speedskater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca will serve as flagbearers for Team U.S.A.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games begin with a time-honored tradition that fans won't want to miss.
On Friday, Feb. 6, the nearly three-week-long global sporting competition will kick off with the iconic opening ceremony. Held inside the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan — marking the fourth time Italy has hosted the Olympic Games — the celebration will feature performances from Mariah Carey, Laura Pasuini, Andrea Bocelli and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
According to the Olympics' official website, actor and producer Pierfrancesco Favino and The White Lotus alum Sabrina Impacciatore will also make appearances. As always, the opening ceremony will also include the Parade of Nations as well as the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
Since Nov. 26, over 10,000 torchbearers — including Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams — have participated in the Olympic Torch Relay, carrying the flame over 7,000 miles from Olympia, Greece to Milan, per Forbes. The final torchbearer who lights the flame won't be revealed until the opening ceremony.
So, how can fans tune in to the global festivities? Here's how to watch the Olympic opening ceremony, including where to stream the event.
When is the Olympic opening ceremony?
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Members of Team United States during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on February 4, 2022 in Beijing, China.
Liu Lu/VCG via Getty
The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics will officially kick off with the traditional opening ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6.
While the event marks the start of the Games, some preliminary and qualification events begin on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 for sports like skiing, luge, snowboarding, hockey and curling. The Winter Olympics will run until Feb. 22.
For the first time ever, the opening ceremony will include the lighting of not one but two cauldrons. The tradition will take place simultaneously in Milan at the Arco della Pace and in Cortina d’Ampezzo at Piazza Dibona.
What time does the Olympic opening ceremony start?
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Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on February 4, 2022 in Beijing, China.
Mao Jianjun/China News Service via Getty
The opening ceremony kicks off at 2 p.m. ET. The global event — which features a long lineup of performances and rituals — is expected to last about three hours.
Primetime coverage of the Games kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with over 3,500 athletes from 93 nations competing in 16 disciplines, including six Paralympic sports. Fans are excited to see the return of some of their favorite pros like Lindsay Vonn, who came out of a five-year retirement to fight for what would be her second gold medal in women's Alpine skiing.
But there are also some firsts to root for at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Laila Edwards will be the first Black woman to play ice hockey for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team, and 17-year-old Jake Canter will make his debut in big air snowboarding.
How can I watch the Olympic opening ceremony on cable?
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Chinese short track speed skater Yang Yang carries the Olympic torch during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on February 4, 2022 in Beijing, China.
VCG via Getty
Viewers in the U.S. will have to adjust to a six-hour time difference throughout the Games, and the same applies for the opening ceremony. While the festivities will kick off at 2 p.m. ET, they will air on primetime at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, USA Network and CNBC.
How can I stream the Olympic opening ceremony?
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Fireworks in the shape of the Olympic rings during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on February 4, 2022.
LI XIN/POOL/AFP via Getty
No cable? No problem. The opening ceremony will stream live at 2 p.m. ET on Peacock, the NBC app, the NBC Sports app and NBCOlympics.com.
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.
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