Here’s a rewritten, detailed, and viral version of the tech news article about watching the 2026 Winter Olympics without cable, with a focus on tech and streaming services:

Unlock the 2026 Winter Olympics: Your Ultimate Guide to Streaming Without Cable!

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are just around the corner, kicking off this Friday, Feb. 6, and for cord-cutters, the good news is: you won’t miss a single moment of the action! Whether you’re a die-hard fan of skiing, ice skating, luge, or curling, there are plenty of ways to catch every thrilling event live—no traditional cable or satellite TV subscription required. Let’s dive into the best streaming options and tech hacks to ensure you’re front and center for all the Olympic glory!

Where and When Do the 2026 Winter Olympics Start?

Mark your calendars! The Olympics officially open on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at 2 p.m. Eastern time (8 p.m. Central European Time) in Milan Cortina, with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the iconic San Siro Stadium. NBC will also re-air the Opening Ceremony at 8 p.m. ET for Primetime, so you can catch it live or tune in later. The Games will run for 17 days, wrapping up on Feb. 22, featuring around 2,900 athletes from over 90 nations competing in 116 medal events. It’s going to be epic!

How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Live (Without Cable)

NBCUniversal is your go-to source for daily coverage of the Winter Games’ most exciting events. They plan to present live coverage from all 116 medal events, including skiing, ice skating, luge, curling, and more. Major events will air on NBC between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET, with Olympics coverage preempting all other shows. But what if you don’t have a cable package? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with these tech-savvy options:

1. Peacock: The Ultimate Olympic Streaming Experience

For just $11 per month, Peacock Premium is your golden ticket to watch every event live. It’s important to note that the base plan, Peacock Select for $8 per month, does not include live sports coverage like the Olympics. With Peacock, you can stream all 116 events live, and they’re rolling out some seriously cool features for the 2026 Winter Olympics:

• Live Actions: Set prompts to jump to new activities, so you never miss a key moment.
• Discovery Multiview: Stream four sports simultaneously—perfect for multitasking fans!
• Rinkside Live: New for 2026, this feature delivers a dynamic vertical view of ice skaters on your phone, plus live highlights and multiple camera angles. If you’re watching on your TV, tablet, or laptop, you can see all camera angles simultaneously via Rinkside.

Plus, you can create a viewing schedule, search by sport or athlete, and keep updated with all the medals and awards. It’s like having a personal Olympic concierge!

2. DirecTV Streaming: The All-in-One Solution

If you’re looking for a comprehensive streaming service, DirecTV is a top contender. Even on its lowest-price level, the $90 Entertainment package, you can access all the Olympic channels you need—CNBC, NBC, NBCSN, Olympics Channel, and USA. DirecTV also includes unlimited cloud DVR storage, so you can keep as many DVR recordings as you’d like for up to nine months. And with the ability to watch on up to 20 streaming devices simultaneously on your home network (and share with up to three other devices away from home), you’ll never miss a moment, no matter where you are.

3. Hulu + Live TV: The Best of Both Worlds

Hulu + Live TV offers an attractive combination of on-demand video and live TV for $90 per month after a three-day free trial. For Olympics watchers, it offers your local NBC channel, CNBC, NBCSN, the Olympics Channel, and USA. Hulu also offers enhanced cloud DVR, increasing the available DVR storage from 50 hours to 200 hours—perfect for the Games. Plus, you can store an unlimited number of videos in your cloud DVR archive for up to nine months.

4. Sling TV: The Customizable Option

Sling TV’s à la carte approach to channels is perfect for those who like to pick and choose. For the Olympics, you’ll be able to get by with Sling Blue, which costs $55 per month. Right now, you can get the Orange and Blue package for $35 per month for your first month, so you can choose this option and cancel it after the Olympics are over. However, it takes some digging to find out which areas have access to NBC and USA, so be sure to check their website before committing.

Sling TV’s default cloud DVR offers 50 hours for free, and you can upgrade to 200 hours for $5 per month. The video is shown in 720p, and with a Sling Orange plan, you can only watch a single stream, while Sling Blue allows you to watch shows on three devices simultaneously. Combined, you can stream your shows on up to four devices.

5. YouTube TV: The Channel King

With over 100 live TV channels, YouTube TV offers more popular channels than its competitors, and includes all the relevant channels: NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and more. For a limited time, new users can get two months of YouTube TV for $60 per month, which is a $23 per month discount. By CNET’s count, out of the top 100 live TV networks, YouTube TV offers the most channels (78) of any streaming service. YouTube TV’s DVR is also outstanding—you can record as many shows as you like, and they’ll only disappear after nine months.

How to Watch the Winter Olympics Online from Anywhere Using a VPN

If you’re outside the US and want to specifically watch NBC’s coverage, you may need to use a VPN to stream the Olympic Games. Our tested pick for the best VPN for streaming is NordVPN, thanks to its consistent speed and stability. NordVPN’s country availability within its server network currently stands at 111 locations, and the number of device connections you can use simultaneously is 10.

Quick Tips for Streaming the Winter Olympics When Using a VPN

Setting up a VPN will depend on the VPN provider, your contract, and the devices you want to protect. To set up a VPN, you will first need to subscribe to a VPN service and download the VPN software. You can visit the VPN service’s official website, or you may receive a download link through email. Alternatively, visit Google Play or the App Store for mobile app options.

Open the software, provide any associated permissions the VPN needs, and sign in using your credentials. Choose a server location and connect to the VPN. In this example, you can select NordVPN’s “…” button to select a server from its list of countries. Most VPNs will give you a “smart” location set as default, typically close to home.

Yes, you’ll be able to watch the US coverage of the Games outside the country, but no matter which service you use, you’ll need a virtual private network (VPN). That’s because NBC only has the rights to show the games in the US. To bypass these restrictions, you’ll need to use the VPN to make it appear as if you’re watching the games inside the US. Here’s how to use a VPN to stream the Olympics:

1. Download and Install a VPN: ZDNET has several recommended streaming VPNs. ZDNET named NordVPN the best VPN for streaming, but we also recommend ExpressVPN as another option.
2. Connect to the Appropriate Server Location: Open the VPN app and select a place in the US.
3. Finally, go to your streaming service and start watching the Games.

Or, if you want to watch using your usual US streaming service, you can stream the game from your home streaming service with most VPNs.

International Viewers: How to Watch the Olympics in Your Country

• Australia: In Oz, you can watch the Olympics on the Nine Network and its streaming brother, 9Now. The Network will have select live coverage of the Olympics, and you can watch on-demand highlights on the network’s streaming service, 9Now.
• Canada: In Canada, the Olympics will be broadcast on CBC. They will be shown on the free CBC Gem streaming service as well as TOU.tv.
• UK: The BBC will broadcast the 2026 Games on its free-to-air channels, BBC One and BBC Two. You can also live stream the action from Paris on the BBC iPlayer. If you want to watch more of the games, you’ll need Discovery Plus, which offers more hours of live coverage across various channels.

The Cheapest Ways to Watch the Olympics

The least expensive way to watch the games is with an antenna (find my top picks for the best TV antennas here). You can also watch some of the Olympics on the NBC Olympics site. You can also get a five-day free trial from YouTube TV, and Hulu Live TV offers a free three-day trial. If you can’t watch the Games with an antenna and don’t subscribe to a streaming service, there is one other cheap way to do it: Get Peacock.

When is the 2026 Olympics Closing Ceremony?

The 2026 Olympics Closing Ceremony will take place Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. ET, or 8 p.m. Milan time.

For detailed schedules and updates, visit NBC Olympics.com or the official Milan Olympics website. I guarantee the schedules will change, so if there’s a sport you follow closely, keep an eye on what’s showing and when. Enjoy the Games!

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