When and how to watch today's Olympics opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Games
CBSN
The Olympics return with one of the most-watched moments of any Winter Games: the opening ceremony. This year's opening ceremony promises to redefine Olympic tradition, as Milano Cortina 2026 marks the first time a Winter Games has taken a multi-centered approach, with celebrations spreading across Italy's Olympic venues rather than a single stadium. In:
The Olympics return with one of the most-watched moments of any Winter Games: the opening ceremony. This year's opening ceremony promises to redefine Olympic tradition, as Milano Cortina 2026 marks the first time a Winter Games has taken a multi-centered approach, with celebrations spreading across Italy's Olympic venues rather than a single stadium.
The ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan will feature blockbuster performances, the iconic Parade of Nations and the lighting of not one but two Olympic cauldrons.
With the United States sending its largest-ever contingent of winter athletes to compete across 16 sports, there's plenty of reason for fans to tune in. Whether you're planning to watch the ceremony live or catch the primetime encore, understanding your viewing options ensures you don't miss a moment of this historic event.
The opening ceremony time for the 2026 Winter Olympics is Friday, Feb. 6, with live coverage starting at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The ceremony is expected to run approximately three hours, concluding around 5 p.m. ET.
For viewers who can't watch the Olympics opening ceremony live, NBC will air an enhanced primetime encore presentation at 8 p.m. ET, giving fans a chance to experience the spectacle during evening hours.
The story of America can be told through the lyrics of folk music – songs of the Great Depression, the civil rights era, and the social revolutions of the 1960s. As folk singer Pete Seeger put it in 1967, "A song isn't a speech; a song is not an editorial. If a song tries to be an editorial or a speech, often it fails as a song. The best songs tell a story, paint a picture, and leave the conclusion up actually to the listener."