The 2026 Winter Olympics officially begin this week, bringing together hundreds of athletes from around the world in northern Italy, including 232 competitors representing the United States, reports Baltimore Chronicle via NPR. The Games will take place across more than two dozen venues spanning the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo regions, featuring 116 medal events in 16 different sports over a two-and-a-half-week period. Unlike the 2022 Beijing Winter Games affected by COVID restrictions, this year’s competitions will welcome spectators in person at most venues.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for February 6 at Milan’s historic San Siro Stadium, showcasing performances from international artists such as Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli. Traditional elements like the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron will highlight the event, while, for the first time, a second Olympic cauldron will also be lit in Cortina d’Ampezzo to honor the co-host city. NBC will broadcast the ceremony live at 2 p.m. ET, with prime-time coverage set for 8 p.m. ET, and streaming options are available on Peacock.
Competition will span 16 days between the opening and closing ceremonies, with events scheduled throughout the day depending on the sport. NBC will provide continuous live coverage of competitions, accompanied by nightly prime-time highlights at 8 p.m. ET and late-night recaps. Viewers in the United States can follow events via NBC, Peacock, and additional platforms including NBC Sports apps and websites. Features like Peacock’s “Gold Zone” and “Multiview” allow audiences to track multiple events simultaneously without changing channels.
The closing ceremony will take place on February 22 at Verona’s historic amphitheater, broadcasting live at 2:30 p.m. ET and later in prime time at 9 p.m. ET. This venue will also host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics on March 6, which will feature approximately 600 Para athletes competing in 79 medal events across six sports including Para Alpine skiing, sled hockey, and wheelchair curling. The Paralympic closing ceremony will occur in Cortina on March 15.
NPR’s dedicated five-person Olympics team reports from Italy, offering news, recaps, and behind-the-scenes perspectives online, on-air, and through email newsletters. Their coverage also includes special dispatches from correspondents in Washington D.C. and across the globe. Fans can tune into NPR radio broadcasts via local stations or stream programs through npr.org and the NPR app. Additionally, daily insights are available through the newsletter “Rachel Goes to the Games,” while the video podcast “Up First Winter Games” highlights the day’s major Olympic stories and unique moments.
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