2026 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing Schedule: What U.S. Viewers Need to Know (ET)

The 2026 Winter Olympics alpine skiing slate promises marquee matchups across speed and technical events. This guide breaks down how the alpine program is likely to be presented for U. S. audiences in Eastern Time (ET), highlights the key races and storylines, and offers practical tips for catching live action during the Milano Cortina Games.

Alpine skiing schedule overview (ET)

Alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics will span several days of the Games, covering downhill, super-G, alpine combined, giant slalom, slalom and the team parallel event. Because the Games take place in the Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo region, most race start times are set to local European morning and midday windows. For viewers in ET, that typically translates to early-morning and daytime viewing windows, with a handful of weekend or evening simulcasts that land more comfortably in prime time.

Plan for two types of viewing blocks in ET:

• Early-morning live sessions: Many speed events, especially downhill and super-G, are scheduled in local morning hours and will reach U. S. East Coast viewers in the very early morning (overnight into the morning). These sessions are often best for dedicated fans who can tune in live for first-run coverage.
• Daytime and weekend highlight windows: Giant slalom, slalom and combined races frequently run later in the local day and can be packaged into daytime and weekend highlight windows for U. S. audiences. Medal ceremonies and marquee matchups are sometimes rebroadcast during more viewer-friendly hours.

Because variable weather and course conditions can force last-minute shifts, expect occasional schedule changes. Viewers should check the official event listings for the most up-to-date start times on the day of each race.

Key races and storylines to watch (ET)

Keep an eye on the marquee speed weekends, which often produce dramatic downhill and super-G showdowns. Technical events like giant slalom and slalom have a habit of delivering tight margins and surprising podiums, and those runs are frequently condensed into competitive afternoon blocks in ET for North American viewers.

There are several broader storylines likely to shape the alpine program: national medal chases, individual comeback bids, and breakout rides from nations expanding their winter-sports footprint. The Milano Cortina Games have already produced headline moments in other disciplines, and alpine skiing figures to deliver its share of historic performances and upset results.

Weekend sessions are where casual viewers are most likely to catch high-stakes finals and medal ceremonies without an overnight wake-up call. If you want to see podium drama live in a more spectator-friendly window, prioritize weekend giant slalom and slalom finals in your schedule planning.

How to catch alpine skiing live in ET — tips for U. S. viewers

1) Build a short cheat sheet: Note the local start times for events you care about, then convert to ET the night before. Keep an eye on whether a race is listed as a morning start (more likely to be overnight ET) or an afternoon start (more likely to air in daytime or evening ET).

2) Watch the weather: Alpine events are especially vulnerable to wind and snow. Contingency windows are sometimes used, which can shift a race into a more favorable or less favorable ET slot on short notice.

3) Prioritize the must-see events: If you only have limited hours to follow the Games, pick a few marquee races—typically downhill, a weekend giant slalom final, and a slalom final—and plan around those live blocks in ET.

4) Use highlights and replays for late-night viewers: If live early-morning viewing isn’t practical, look for scheduled highlight packages and evening rebroadcasts that condense the day’s action into a viewer-friendly block.

Alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics will reward both early risers and those who prefer curated highlight windows. With variable mountain weather and tightly contested courses, flexibility will be the best strategy for catching every key run live in Eastern Time.