Winter Olympics 2026: what you need to know if following from Australia
The 2026 Winter Olympics open on 7 February and run until 23 February, with events spread across northern Italy. Australians can follow the Games on Nine Network, Nine Now, Stan Sport or via The Guardian's live blog, while the Australian contingent of 53 athletes aims for a record medal haul.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the Milano Cortina Games, kick off in the early hours of Saturday 7 February 2026 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). The opening ceremony will be staged at Milan’s historic San Siro stadium, and the two‑week programme will close with a ceremony in Verona on 23 February, also at 6:00 am AEDT.
When and where the action takes place
All events are hosted across eight venues in northern Italy: the alpine resorts of Anterselva, Bormio, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, Predazzo and Tesero, plus the cities of Milano and Verona. Athletes are accommodated in six Olympic villages that correspond to the 15 competition sites. This will be Italy’s third time staging the Winter Games, following Turin in 2006 and the original Cortina d’Ampezzo edition in 1956.
While the opening ceremony marks the formal start, a handful of sports – notably curling and ice hockey – begin a few days earlier, giving early‑bird fans a taste of competition before the fanfare.
How Australians can watch live
In Australia the primary broadcast partner is the Nine Network. Matches and medal events are shown on the main Nine channel and streamed live via Nine Now. For subscription‑based viewers, Stan Sport also carries comprehensive coverage, including additional commentary and on‑demand replays.
The Guardian provides a 12‑hour daily live‑blog that tracks every event in real time, which is useful for those who prefer a text‑based feed. Sign‑up for the outlet’s "Winter Olympics 2026 daily briefing" newsletter to receive a concise roundup of each day’s highlights, schedule changes and medal updates.
Italy is ten hours behind AEDT, so the typical competition day begins around 9:00 am local time, which translates to roughly 7:00 pm Australian time. This means most of the action is available in the evening, with the final ice‑hockey gold‑medal game slated for 12:10 am AEDT on 23 February.
New sports and event formats
The Milano Cortina programme introduces ski mountaineering (often shortened to “skimo”) as a full medal sport. Skimo combines uphill climbs on ski skins, backpack‑carried ascents and high‑speed downhill runs. Three medals are on offer: men’s sprint, women’s sprint and a mixed relay.
Beyond the debut of skimo, the Games feature a host of new events within existing disciplines. Luge, ski jumping, skeleton, freestyle skiing and alpine skiing each add fresh formats designed to broaden appeal and showcase emerging talent.
Overall, about 3,000 athletes from 92 nations – plus a team of Independent Olympic Athletes – will contest 116 medals across 15 sports.
Australia’s team and medal prospects
Australia is sending its second‑largest Winter Olympic delegation ever, with 53 athletes competing in snowboarding, freestyle skiing, alpine skiing, skeleton and other disciplines. The squad builds on a strong showing in Beijing 2022, where Australia earned one gold, two silver and one bronze, finishing 18th on the medal table.
Key names to watch include mogul skier Jakara Anthony, snowboarders Scotty James and teenage half‑pipe prodigy Valentino Guseli, and freestyle skier Indra Brown, who will contest the half‑pipe in Milan. Notably, the mixed curling team, despite being ranked number one in December 2022, failed to qualify, and Australia will have no representation in ice hockey.
World Cup form suggests the Aussies could surpass their Beijing tally, potentially targeting a historic best. The absence of 2022 skeleton silver‑medallist Jaclyn Narracott is a gap, but the remaining roster boasts several athletes with podium potential.
Rivalries and storylines to follow
While the TV‑show "Heated Rivalry" has turned Olympic torch‑bearers Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie into household names, the real on‑ice drama returns with NHL players back in the Olympic mix after a 12‑year hiatus. The United States faces Denmark in a high‑stakes men’s ice‑hockey match scheduled for Valentine’s Day, adding a romantic twist to the competition.
For Australian viewers, the most compelling head‑to‑head may be the battle between Scotty James and Valentino Guseli in the men’s snowboard half‑pipe, a rivalry that promises high‑flying action without the geopolitical overtones of ice‑hockey.
What’s next after the Games?
The Milano Cortina Games will conclude with the Paralympic Winter Games, also held in northern Italy, beginning shortly after the closing ceremony. In the longer term, ski mountaineering is slated for possible expansion at the 2030 Winter Olympics, while cross‑country running and cyclocross have been floated as future additions for the French Alps bid.
Australian fans should stay tuned to Nine’s coverage and The Guardian’s daily briefings to keep up with medal counts, athlete stories and any last‑minute schedule shifts as the Games progress.
Why it matters
The Milano Cortina Games are the first Winter Olympics to be broadcast widely across Australia on both free‑to‑air and streaming platforms, offering local fans unprecedented access to new sports and a strong Australian team.
Key points
- Opening ceremony on 7 Feb 2026 at Milan’s San Siro; closing ceremony on 23 Feb in Verona
- Australian viewers can watch via Nine Network, Nine Now or Stan Sport; Guardian provides a live‑blog
- Ski mountaineering debuts as a medal sport alongside new events in luge, ski jumping and more
- Australia fields 53 athletes, aiming for its best Winter Olympic medal haul ever
- NHL players return to Olympic ice‑hockey after a 12‑year break
Frequently asked questions
What time does the opening ceremony start in Australia?
The opening ceremony begins at 6:00 am AEDT on 7 February 2026, which is 8 pm on 6 February in Sydney.
Which TV channel broadcasts the Winter Olympics in Australia?
The Nine Network holds the free‑to‑air rights; live streams are available on Nine Now and the subscription service Stan Sport.
Will Australia compete in curling or ice‑hockey at Milano Cortina?
No. The Australian mixed curling team missed qualification and there is no Australian ice‑hockey team in the 2026 Games.
What new sport is making its Olympic debut in 2026?
Ski mountaineering (skimo) joins the programme with men’s and women’s sprint events and a mixed relay.
Who are the Australian medal hopefuls to watch?
Mogul skier Jakara Anthony, snowboarders Scotty James and Valentino Guseli, and freestyle skier Indra Brown are among the top prospects.
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