How to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony live: TV channels, streaming options, and the easiest ways to follow from anywhere

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony airs Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, with the main show staged at San Siro in Milan and companion elements tied to mountain venues. The ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local time in Italy) and is expected to run about three hours. A prime-time encore is also scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET for viewers who prefer an evening broadcast.

If you want the smoothest experience—especially while traveling—the key is knowing who holds the Olympic media rights where you are and choosing the simplest path: live TV, the official rights-holder’s streaming service, or authenticated streaming through a pay-TV login.

Start time and what “live” means this year

Because Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Time, “live” can look different depending on your location:

• U.S. and Canada: a daytime live window is typical, with a separate prime-time presentation for broader audiences.

• Europe and Africa: the ceremony lands closer to evening viewing in many places, which can make it easier to watch in real time.

• Asia-Pacific: the ceremony may fall late night or early morning locally.

If you see more than one listed time, you’re usually looking at two different feeds: a live world feed and a time-shifted prime-time show with additional production elements.

TV channels: how to find the exact station in your country

Olympic TV coverage is not “one universal channel.” It is licensed territory by territory, which means the channel name depends on where you’re watching. The most reliable method is to identify your local Olympic rights-holder and then expect the ceremony to air on:

• a main broadcast network (often free-to-air in many countries), and/or

• one or more sports cable channels (common where pay-TV bundles dominate).

In many regions, the opening ceremony is treated as a flagship event and placed on the most widely available channel the rights-holder operates. If you’re in a hotel, start with the hotel’s channel guide under “Sports” and “Special Events,” then switch to local broadcast stations if you don’t see it on sports channels.

Streaming options: the most common ways people watch live

Streaming access usually falls into three buckets:

1. The rights-holder’s paid streaming service
   This is typically the best single place for “every event live,” including alternate cameras and replays. Access may require a subscription in that territory.

2. Authenticated streaming tied to a TV package
   If your country’s rights-holder offers streaming through a TV login, you can often watch live in a browser or app using your pay-TV credentials.

3. Official Olympics digital coverage where available
   In some regions, official Olympic digital platforms provide live streams or curated highlights, subject to territory restrictions.

A key detail: streaming availability can change when you cross borders. If you travel, your home subscription may not work the same way abroad, even if you’re paying for it.

The easiest ways to follow from anywhere

Here are the simplest options that work for most travelers and cord-cutters, in priority order:

• Use the official rights-holder in the country you’re physically in. This avoids geo-restriction headaches and usually gives the cleanest “press play and watch” experience.

• If you’re traveling briefly, try your home provider’s authenticated streaming first. Some services allow temporary roaming access; others do not.

• In a hotel, default to local broadcast TV. Opening ceremonies are often placed on widely available channels even when many events are paywalled.

• If live viewing is hard, watch the prime-time encore in your home time zone. For U.S. viewers, that’s 8:00 p.m. ET.

• For a low-bandwidth backup, follow the official live blog-style updates and results pages. This is the most reliable way to stay current when streaming fails.

Avoid “unofficial” restreams. They are often unreliable, can be taken down mid-event, and may expose you to security risks.

What to expect on the broadcast tonight

The show is designed as a multi-location spectacle, with the main production in Milan and additional athlete-parade elements tied to mountain venues. The ceremony includes the Parade of Nations, formal speeches, and the Olympic flame moment that signals the Games are officially underway.

If you’re watching live, tune in 10–15 minutes early for pre-ceremony coverage, which often includes venue shots, delegation arrivals, and explanation of the night’s format—useful this year given the split-site design.

Sources consulted: Olympics.com; IOC Media Rights-Holders page; Reuters; CBS News