Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
After the mess that was the Paris curtain-raiser, creative lead Marco Balich has taken it upon himself to show that the multi-venue Opening Ceremony can capture the magic of Beijing 2008 and London 2012. San Siro, the hulking, iconic home of Internazionale and AC Milan, will anchor the show — and fear not, because reports of the stadium's imminent demolition have been greatly exaggerated.
You can watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony live streams from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for FREE.
The Milano-Cortina Opening Ceremony takes place on Friday, February 6.
► Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT / 7 p.m. GMT / 6 a.m. AEDT (Sat.)
• FREE live streams — BBC iPlayer (U.K.) / CBC Gem (Can) / 9Now (Aus)
• Watch anywhere — try Norton VPN 100% risk free
Andrea Bocelli will headline, and if his performance is anything like Luciano Pavarotti's at the 1990 World Cup, it'll be one viewers continue to venerate in hushed tones for decades. The legendary tenor has equal top-billing with the unlikely figure of Mariah Carey.
It's easy to forget, now that her career has been reduced to that one accursed Christmas song, but she's had 19 No.1 singles, including "Hero", and is a five-time Grammy Award winner. The celebrated pianist Lang Lang, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, "The White Lotus" actor Sabrina Impacciatore, actor and singer Matilda De Angelis will also have starring roles.
The ceremony, which is expected to stretch to around three hours, will feature the Parade of Athletes and the lughting of two Olympic cauldrons — one at the Arco della Pace in Milan, and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo. There will also be festivities in Predazzo, Livigno and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
And one final word on San Siro. The stadium's days are numbered, but it's not in line to be flattened in the immediate wake of Milano-Cortina, as many reports are claiming. The future home of Internazionale and AC Milan is still in the design stages.
Here's how to watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony online and on TV — including free streaming options.
Can I watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony free of charge?
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is free-to-air in the U.K. courtesy of BBC iPlayer, in Canada via CBC Gem, and in Australia through 9Now.
Away from home? You may not be able to tune in like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution. You can use a VPN to watch free Opening Ceremony coverage — we’ll show you how below.
Watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 2026 from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the show on your usual subscription?
You can still watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software can make your devices appear to be back in your home country regardless of where you are, making it ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Norton VPN is one of the best you can get — we explain why in our Norton VPN Review.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, Norton VPN is a great choice.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. and want to view a Canadian service, you'd select Canada from the server list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to CBC Gem or another streaming service and watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
How to watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony live streams in the U.S.
In the U.S., the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is being shown on both NBC and Peacock. A full replay will be shown again at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The three-hour show will be hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Terry Gannon, Shaun White and Mike Tirico.
Peacock is providing comprehensive coverage of the Milano-Cortina Games, and will also air a "Gold Zone" recap show daily. You'll need at least a Premium subscription to tune in on Peacock, with prices starting at $10.99/month or 109.99/year.
Alternatively, cord-cutters can opt for a service like Sling TV. The Sling Blue package costs from $45.99/month and gives you access to more than 30 channels including NBC (in select markets) and USA Network.
YouTube TV is a more comprehensive option, offering NBC, USA Network and CNBC on its Base Plan. It costs from $82.99/month (with a $15 discount on each of your first five months), after you've given it a try with its 21-day FREE trial.
If you're outside the U.S. but have one of these subscriptions, you can watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony using a VPN such as Norton VPN.
How to watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony live streams in the U.K.
The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is one of many events that will be shown on free-to-air BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
If you're a Brit abroad, you can still follow Winter Olympics 2026 live streams thanks to Norton VPN.
The Opening Ceremony is also available to watch on Discovery Plus, which is providing comprehensive Winter Olympics coverage. Its standard Entertainment plan costs £3.99/month, or you can combine it with a full TNT Sports package for £33.99/month.
How to watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony live streams in Canada
CBC is showing the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Canada, which means it will be available to live stream for free on CBC Gem.
Adrienne Arsenault and Devin Heroux are on commentary duties for the three-hour show. A full replay will be shown again at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
If you’re currently away from Canada, you can use a VPN such as Norton VPN to make your device behave as if it's back at home.
How to watch Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony live streams in Australia
In Australia, the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is being shown on free-to-air Channel 9, with live streaming available via 9Now.
The show will be hosted by Ally Langdon, James Bracey, Leila McKinnon and Todd Woodbridge, and a full replay will air at 1pm AEDT.
Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like Norton VPN to watch all the action on 9Now as if you were back home.
It will also air on Stan Sport, which is providing comprehensive Winter Olympics coverage. It costs from AU$32/month, with 4K UHD coverage available for an extra $10.
More from Tom's Guide
- How to watch Premier League 2025-26 — TV guide, channels, fixture list
- The best streaming VPNs
- How to watch the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl and T20 World Cup for free
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
