How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony online for free
TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Peacock or NBCOlympics.com. Alternatively, access free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We feel truly blessed by all the sport on the calendar this year. We're genuinely overrun with huge events, including the Winter Olympics. You could make the argument that this is the biggest event of 2026, but some people would point to the 2026 World Cup taking place this summer. Frankly, we don't care. We're just going to enjoy everything on offer.
The Winter Olympics doesn't actually begin with the opening ceremony. Curling, luge, snowboarding, skiing, and ice hockey start from Feb. 4, but the opening ceremony is still where things officially get going. Expect a stunning show from the San Siro Olympic Stadium plus extra events from other Olympic territories. The likes of Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Andrea Bocelli will perform.
If you want to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from 2 p.m. ET on Feb. 6. The opening ceremony is expected to run for around three hours.
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony for free
The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony is available to live stream for free on a number of services:
Australia — 9Now
Austria — ORF
Canada — CBC Gem
France — France TV
Germany — ARD
Ireland — RTÉ Player
Italy — RAI
Spain — RTVE
UK — BBC iPlayer
These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free access
Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the opening ceremony plus the rest of the 2026 Winter Olympics before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony for free with ExpressVPN.