2026 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing Schedule: Key events and ET viewing windows

The alpine skiing programme at the 2026 Winter Olympics will span the Games with a mix of speed and technical events. Below is a concise guide to the event lineup, typical Eastern Time (ET) start windows and practical tips for viewers planning to follow every run and podium moment.

Event lineup and typical ET time windows

Organizers schedule alpine skiing to take advantage of optimal snow and daylight on the mountain courses. Times listed are typical windows in Eastern Time (ET) for live competition days; final, official start times can shift by hours depending on weather, course preparation and broadcast decisions.

• Downhill (Men’s & Women’s) — Speed events traditionally run in the early morning local time. Expect live action roughly in the early-morning ET window: about 3: 00–7: 00 AM ET. These are the fastest, most headline-grabbing races and often scheduled on separate days for men and women.
• Super-G (Men’s & Women’s) — Another speed discipline often placed in morning sessions. Plan for roughly 3: 30–7: 30 AM ET on Super-G days. Super-G mixes speed with more technical turns than downhill and can produce surprise medalists.
• Giant Slalom (Men’s & Women’s) — Technical courses that usually run later in the day local time, translating to later-morning to early-afternoon ET slots. Expect live coverage approximately 7: 00 AM–12: 00 PM ET, with two runs per athlete separated by a break.
• Slalom (Men’s & Women’s) — Slalom typically concludes the alpine technical block. Anticipate mid-to-late morning ET start windows around 7: 00 AM–1: 00 PM ET for qualifying runs and second-run finals.
• Alpine Combined (Men’s & Women’s) — This event pairs a speed run (downhill or Super-G) with a slalom run. Combined days can straddle morning and midday ET, generally running 4: 00 AM–11: 00 AM ET depending on the order of runs.
• Mixed Team Parallel — Team events and parallel races are often scheduled in prime viewing days and can appear in mid-morning to early-afternoon ET windows, roughly 7: 00 AM–2: 00 PM ET. These head-to-head formats are compact and spectator-friendly.

Key viewing dates and what to expect

Alpine skiing medals are typically spread across the middle portion of the Olympic schedule, with marquee downhill and Super-G finals early in the alpine programme and the technical events clustered mid-Games. Expect multiple medal sessions across consecutive days, and weekend sessions frequently host several finals aimed at broader global audiences.

Weather is the biggest variable. Wind, fog or heavy snow can delay runs or move event start times by hours, so mornings that look clear in ET can still change. When a speed event is postponed, organizers often slot it into the next available clear window, which can create late revisions to the published schedule.

How to plan viewing in Eastern Time (ET)

• Convert local mountain start times carefully: mountain local times are several hours ahead of ET during February; use the ET windows above as a baseline and expect adjustments on competition days.
• Expect early-morning wake-ups for the downhill and Super-G medal races. Technical events will more often fall into morning-to-noon ET windows, which are easier for daytime following.
• Keep an eye on weather bulletins for the mountain venues. Last-minute schedule shifts are common for safety and fairness in alpine events.
• Plan for two runs in technical events: giant slalom and slalom finals include two runs with a break in between. When following live, factor that interval into viewing plans.

This guide is designed to help viewers set expectations and plan viewing in Eastern Time, but final official start lists and day-by-day schedules will be released by event organizers and broadcasters as the Games approach and as conditions dictate. Stay prepared for adjustments and expect thrilling, high-stakes racing across the alpine programme.