The Winter Olympics are one of the world’s biggest sporting events, bringing together thousands of athletes from dozens of countries every four years. If you’re wondering how to watch on TV or online, this guide covers how the games are typically structured and offers tips for keeping your connection secure with a streaming-friendly VPN.
What is the Winter Olympics?
The Winter Olympics feature sports played on snow and ice, including skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, curling, and figure skating, among others. Held every four years, it brings athletes from around the world together to compete for medals while showcasing incredible skill, close finishes, and plenty of emotional moments.
When are the Winter Olympics held?
Each edition of the Winter Olympics runs for about two and a half weeks, typically in February. The exact dates and host city change with each cycle, since the International Olympic Committee selects the location years in advance.
Here are the details of the events in 2025 and 2026:
Winter Olympics 2025
| Milestone | Details |
| Torch relay | Flame lit in Olympia, Greece on 26 November 2025, arrived in Rome on 4 December, and began its Italian route on 6 December 2025 |
| Venue readiness | Test events held through late 2025 for alpine skiing, sliding sports, and Milan’s ice hockey arena, with the NHL confirming satisfaction after a recent test event |
| Ticket sales | Nearly 70% of tickets sold by mid-December, with about 1 million of 1.4 million Olympic tickets claimed and 255,000 Paralympic tickets available |
| Ceremonies | No ceremonies held yet; torchbearer applications closed on 30 June 2025 ahead of the relay |
| Competition dates | Games not yet underway; competition dates confirmed for February 2026 |
| Athletes and participation | Qualification events and national team announcements took place throughout the year ahead of the Games |
| Paralympic status | Torch relay preparations included selection of 501 Paralympic torchbearers, with the Games themselves scheduled for March 2026 |
Winter Olympics 2026
| Milestone | Details |
| Torch relay | Flame completed its 12,000 km journey through Italy, arriving at San Siro Stadium on 6 February 2026 |
| Venue readiness | All 15 competition venues were operational and active as the Games got underway |
| Ticket sales | Sales continued through the Games period, building on the strong demand seen in the run-up |
| Ceremonies | Opening Ceremony held 6 February 2026 at San Siro Stadium; Closing Ceremony held 22 February 2026 |
| Competition dates | Olympics ran 6 to 22 February 2026 |
| Athletes and participation | More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries competed for 195 medals across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering |
| Paralympic status | Paralympic Games held 6 to 15 March 2026 |
How a typical games unfolds
While the schedule varies by edition, most Winter Olympics follow a similar rhythm:
| 阶段 | What usually happens |
| Opening weekend | Preliminary rounds begin in sports like curling, hockey, and snowboarding, followed by the Opening Ceremony |
| First week | Marquee early events: alpine skiing, figure skating, and short track speed skating |
| Peak week | Bobsleigh, freestyle skiing, and several key medal rounds |
| Final days | Remaining medal events, including speed skating and ski cross |
| Closing | The Closing Ceremony wraps up the games |
Keeping this general structure in mind can help you plan around the events you care about most, even before the detailed daily schedule is released.
Host cities
The host city changes with every edition, and it’s usually a joint effort between a larger city and a smaller town known for winter sports, since the games need venues for both urban events like ceremonies and mountain-based events like skiing and sliding sports.
Each host brings its own local flavor to the opening and closing ceremonies, along with new venues built or adapted specifically for the games.
How to watch the Winter Olympics on TV?
Cable and free-to-air TV remain a common way to follow the games, and broadcast rights are usually held by one main network per country for several editions at a time.
| Region/country | Typical broadcasters | Notes |
| 美国 | NBC and its affiliated cable channels | Long-term rights holder, with coverage across linear TV and streaming |
| United Kingdom | BBC | Free-to-air coverage plus online streaming through BBC iPlayer |
| 澳大利亚 | Free-to-air and digital networks (varies by cycle) | Coverage typically split between broadcast TV and a streaming app |
| 意大利 | RAI (free-to-air) and pay-TV partners | Rights are often split between a public broadcaster and a pay-TV provider |
| Middle East and North Africa | beIN Media Group | Typically holds regional broadcast rights |
| Europe (general) | Eurosport and national EBU broadcasters | Pan-European coverage across multiple channels |
Since broadcast deals are occasionally renegotiated between cycles, it’s worth double-checking who holds the rights in your country ahead of the next games.
Streaming platforms to check
Alongside traditional TV, most of the broadcasters above also offer a dedicated streaming platform for live coverage, replays, and highlights. A few examples of the type of coverage you can typically expect:
| Platform type | What it usually offers |
| National broadcaster app (for example, BBC iPlayer, RAI Play) | Free access, often tied to a local TV license or residency |
| Pay-TV streaming service (for example, Peacock) | Full live coverage plus on-demand replays, usually subscription-based |
| Regional digital platforms | Free-to-air coverage with live and catch-up options |
Common free ways to stream by country
Many national broadcasters offer free or license-based streaming for the Winter Olympics. Availability and any license requirements can vary by edition, so it’s worth checking directly with the platform closer to the games:
- United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer (usually requires a valid UK TV license)
- Australia: free-to-air digital apps tied to the local rights holder
- Canada: CBC Gem (multiple feeds, highlights, and replays)
- Ireland: RTÉ Player (free streams and replays)
- New Zealand: Sky Go (limited free coverage, plus highlights)
- France: France.tv (live coverage and replays)
- Germany: ARD and ZDF Mediathek (free streams and highlights)
- 意大利： RAI Play (national broadcaster, free online)
- Spain: RTVE Play (live streams and highlights)
- Sweden: SVT Play (live coverage and replays)
- Norway: NRK TV (streams and highlights)
Traveling during the games? Here’s how to stay connected
A lot of fans end up traveling for work or a holiday right in the middle of the Winter Olympics, and that can make it trickier to keep up with the coverage you’re used to at home. A couple of things worth knowing:
- If you already pay for a streaming service back home, you can often keep using your existing account while traveling by staying securely connected, rather than signing up for something new in whichever country you happen to be in.
- Hotel Wi-Fi and public networks at airports, cafes, or watch parties are convenient, but they’re also common targets for data snooping. Using a VPN like Symlex VPN encrypts your connection.
- A VPN with built-in ad and tracker blocking can also make for a cleaner, less cluttered viewing experience while you stream.
If you decide to use a VPN while watching the games, here’s a simple way to get set up:
Step 1. Install a trusted VPN app on your device. Symlex VPN is available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and several other platforms.
Step 2. Sign up and connect to a secure server through the app’s dashboard.
Step 3. Log into your own streaming subscriptions as you normally would, now over an encrypted connection.
Step 4. Stream with peace of mind, knowing your data is protected from prying eyes on shared or public networks.
Coverage and access rules differ by platform and region, so always check the terms of the streaming service you’re using before you sign in from a different location.
Quick tips for a smoother viewing experience
- Check the event schedule against your own time zone in advance, especially for marquee events like the Opening Ceremony or medal rounds.
- Download your streaming app ahead of time and test your login before the events you want to watch actually start.
- If you’re watching on a shared or public network, connect through a secure, encrypted connection first.
- Keep an eye on official broadcaster schedules, since replay and highlight availability can vary by platform and edition.
Final thoughts
Between cable coverage, national broadcaster apps, and dedicated streaming platforms, there are usually plenty of legitimate ways to follow the Winter Olympics no matter where the games are held. A bit of planning and a secure connection if you’re on public Wi-Fi will help you enjoy every edition of the games without any unnecessary hassle.