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Stream the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Online for Free
The long-awaited Winter Olympic Games are finally here, but before most sports kick off (some, like curling, have already started Wednesday), the opening ceremony is penciled in for Friday, February 6, at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST. What to expect: Mastery everywhere you turn, from those Ralph Lauren–designed outfits for Team USA to performances by the likes of Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, as the world’s finest athletes mark the beginning of the 2026 Olympics.
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Notably, this is the first time in Winter Olympic history that the opening ceremony will span multiple venues and cities. The main event is going to unfold at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, with additional revelries happening simultaneously in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The latter town will even light its very own, Leonardo da Vinci–inspired Olympic cauldron, remaining ablaze for the entirety of the 2026 Olympic Games.
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Online Without Cable
You don’t have to drop anchor in Italy (or even have cable) to enjoy the Olympics opening ceremony this year. Airing on NBC, the proceedings can be watched with live TV streaming services like DirecTV, Peacock (the Olympics’ official streaming home), and Hulu + Live TV.
Below, read all about the benefits of each platform, including trials that will let you stream the Winter Olympics opening ceremony for free.
DirecTV
NBC is available across DirecTV’s most-loved packages, like Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. The good news: All subscriptions come with a five-day free trial for watching the 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony online, after which channel bundles start at $49.99 for your first month (with DirecTV’s generous $40-off deal). The better news? That five-day period will allow you to catch not-to-miss Olympic events happening in the next few days — think figure skating, alpine skiing, ice hockey, and beyond — while cheering for the red, white, and blue.
Peacock
As the main streaming destination of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, Peacock is an apt choice for witnessing the opening ceremony action from the comforts of home. Note that Peacock doesn’t offer free trials to its customers, and plans clock in at $10.99 to $16.99 monthly. Looking for an easy hack to stream NBC on Peacock without spending a pretty penny? Signing up for an Instacart+ membership or a Walmart+ membership gets you complimentary access (these have 14-day and month-long free trials attached, respectively).
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is a leader in streaming that’s equipped with NBC (not to mention over 95 other popular channel options). Its trial is only three days long, but that’s more than enough time to sit back and enjoy the Olympics opening ceremony, whether you’re hyping up (in spirit) Chloe Kim or Ilia “Quad God” Malinin. After your trial ends, committing to the service will cost $89.99 a month.
What Are the Athletes Wearing at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Historically speaking, the Winter Olympics opening ceremony involves the marching of athletes from all countries represented as they enter the stadium wearing custom, patriotic coordinates created just for the occasion. The so-called Parade of Nations will also be held across not one but four locations this year — accompanied by live musical performances from global superstars and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron (plural this time).
On the fashion side of things, Ralph Lauren takes first place as the official outfitter of the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams. The brand is joined on the metaphorical podium by Lululemon (behind the garb of Team Canada) and Emporio Armani, dressing Italian athletes competing on home turf. As reported earlier by WWD, the opening ceremony will even feature a full-scale tribute to the late Giorgio Armani. Other labels, from Moncler and Skims to J.Crew, adidas, and Nike, are also behind the ensembles we’re bound to see Friday and beyond.
Days before, the sartorial and athletic worlds collided during an unexpected Olympic Winter Games Fashion Showcase. The fashion-forward event, staged Wednesday, flooded a runway with actual Olympians and offered a sneak peek at the “style moments set to be worn by athletes on and off the field of play,” per the International Olympic Committee.
Want to show your support for Team USA? Ralph Lauren has recently made its opening ceremony coats, sweaters, earflap hats, socks, and boots shoppable. Most everything has sold out since, though the Team USA Opening Ceremony Wool Pant is a lucky exception.
Matching with the sports legends you so admire has never been more accessible.
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending news and must-stream moments in culture.