How to Watch Olympic Hockey 2026 Live Anywhere

The return of NHL players to the Olympic stage has transformed the men’s ice hockey tournament at Milano Cortina 2026 into the most anticipated winter sports event of the decade. For fans, media giants, and streaming platforms alike, this isn’t just another Olympic sport — it’s a global broadcast phenomenon.

With twelve powerhouse teams (including Canada, USA, Sweden, Czechia, Finland, and host nation Italy), the tournament is more than just a medal chase. It’s a billion-dollar media moment, driving subscription spikes, advertising deals, and a new wave of digital innovation — from low-latency 4K HDR streaming to VPN-enabled cross-border access.

This guide breaks down exactly how, where, and on what platforms you can watch the entire tournament — whether you’re in North America, Europe, Asia, or tuning in remotely from a tropical beach. We’ve mapped out the full global rights structure, included VPN workarounds for blocked regions, and explained why some matches will be free-to-air while others sit behind paywalls.

1. NHL Effect: Why Milano Cortina 2026 Is a Broadcast Game-Changer

For the first time in over a decade, NHL players are returning to the Olympic ice. That single fact has redefined the global value of the men’s ice hockey tournament at Milano Cortina 2026. This isn’t just an Olympic discipline anymore — it’s a global primetime property.

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed the NHL’s full participation, everything changed. Advertising inventory spiked. Streaming rights were repriced. Broadcasters in every hockey market — from North America to Scandinavia — scrambled to secure premium slots. And fans? They finally get to see best-on-best matchups that rival the Stanley Cup Finals in intensity and star power.

Why It Matters

• Star Power Returns: Names like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, David Pastrňák, Leon Draisaitl, and Roman Josi aren’t just athletes — they’re marketable assets. Their participation has elevated Olympic hockey to “must-carry” status for every major broadcaster.
• North American Gold Rush: NBC and CBC are using this tournament as a centerpiece of their Olympic strategy. Both have committed to full-game coverage, whip-around shows, 4K streaming, and primetime rebroadcasts. For NBC, this is also a chance to use Peacock to pull in new paid subscribers mid-Olympics.
• Europe’s Subscription Push: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), via its Max platform, has rights to every game in full. While public broadcasters (BBC, ARD/ZDF, SVT, etc.) will air local team games, Max is the only platform that lets fans watch all matchups — including non-national games like Switzerland vs. Latvia — in 4K and on-demand.
• New Digital Playbooks: Expect the rise of “RedZone-style” coverage for Olympic hockey. NBC’s Peacock will debut a dedicated “Gold Zone” stream, cutting between power plays, overtime, and shootouts across multiple games — aimed at casual fans who want action, not downtime.

Time Zone Economics

A less obvious but equally important shift is the time zone advantage. Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the US and Canada, which means most hockey games will air in the North American morning and early afternoon. This opens up massive monetization opportunities:

• Live Olympic hockey during US breakfast television
• Primetime rebroadcasts for highlight-driven viewers
• Multi-screen usage with Peacock and CBC Gem apps

Meanwhile, in Europe, prime hockey matchups align perfectly with evening hours — pushing higher engagement and subscription pressure for platforms like Max, especially in Germany, Sweden, and Finland.

Summary: Why Broadcasters Are All In

2. North America: A Tale of Two Powerhouses

Nowhere is Olympic hockey more culturally and commercially significant than in the United States and Canada. While both countries share a deep passion for the sport, their broadcast approaches for Milano Cortina 2026 are very different — and tailored to their unique media ecosystems.

🇺🇸 United States: NBC’s Olympic Hockey Machine

NBCUniversal owns exclusive broadcast rights to the Winter Olympics in the U.S. through 2032, and they’re going all-in on men’s hockey. Their strategy combines live daytime coverage, evening replays, and full digital access through Peacock — all designed to serve casual viewers and hardcore fans alike.

TV Coverage

• NBC (Main Network) will air all Team USA games live, along with marquee matchups like Canada vs. Sweden or the Gold Medal Game.
• USA Network and CNBC will fill in with additional group-stage and quarterfinal games, especially when multiple matches happen simultaneously.

Peacock Streaming (Subscription Required)

• Every single game, live and on-demand, including warmups and press conferences.
• “Gold Zone” Hockey Edition — a whip-around stream that jumps between power plays, shootouts, and final minutes. Perfect for fans who want constant action.
• Replays, condensed games, and studio breakdowns available after every match.

Devices Supported

Smart TVs, Roku, Firestick, Android, iOS, web — plus full Chromecast support.

👉 Best VPN for Americans abroad: NordVPN – reliably unlocks Peacock and NBCOlympics.com, even on public Wi-Fi or hotel networks.

🇨🇦 Canada: National Pride, Free Streams

In Canada, hockey isn’t just sport — it’s identity. And at Milano Cortina 2026, CBC/Radio-Canada is ensuring that every Team Canada game is free to watch for all Canadians.

TV Coverage

• CBC (English) and ICI Télé (French) will broadcast all Canada games live.
• Sportsnet and TSN will share additional games from other countries, giving cable subscribers wall-to-wall coverage of the entire tournament.
• RDS will carry French-language games not aired on ICI Télé.

Free Online Streaming

• CBC Gem and TOU.tv will live stream Canada’s games — no paywall, no log-in.
• CBC’s digital platforms will also carry live stats, replays, highlights, and daily Olympic hockey shows.

For Canadians Abroad

If you’re outside Canada during the Olympics, just connect to a VPN server in Canada and use CBC Gem or TOU.tv as if you were home.

👉 Best VPN for Canadians abroad: Surfshark – fast Canadian servers, unlimited devices, works on phones, laptops, and Smart TVs.

⏱ North America Time Zones: What to Expect

Because games take place in Italy (UTC+1), here’s when you can catch key matchups in North American time zones:

💡 NBC will rebroadcast Team USA games during primetime (8 PM ET) with polished commentary and behind-the-scenes features — but the live drama happens while most people are still at work or school.

Summary: North America’s Strength is in Variety

3. Europe: Free-to-Air Meets Premium Streaming

Europe is the traditional heartland of international ice hockey. With seven of the twelve participating nations coming from this region, Milano Cortina 2026 is practically a home tournament.

And while most viewers will enjoy free public TV coverage, the introduction of Max (Warner Bros. Discovery) as the pan-European pay streaming option has changed the game.

🇸🇪 Sweden – A Shared Approach: SVT, TV4 & Max

Swedish fans are spoiled for choice.

• SVT (Sveriges Television) will show Team Sweden games live, free of charge, via TV and the SVT Play app.
• TV4 picks up additional match days or time slots.
• Max (Warner Bros. Discovery) carries every single game, including matchups like Canada vs. USA or Switzerland vs. Latvia — all in full 4K HDR with Swedish commentary.

Example: You can watch Sweden vs. Germany live on SVT, then switch to Max to stream Finland vs. Czech Republic.

👉 Best VPN for Sweden abroad: ExpressVPN – stable Nordic servers, excellent for SVT Play and Max access anywhere.

🇫🇮 Finland – TV5 for Free, Max for Everything Else

Finland’s rights split is one of the most interesting:

• TV5 (owned by WBD) will air all Team Finland games for free on linear TV.
• Max holds exclusive rights to the rest of the men’s ice hockey tournament, including group stage, playoffs, and medal games not featuring Finland.
• YLE, the public broadcaster, will not air any men’s hockey live — a first in Olympic history.

If Finnish fans want to watch anything beyond their national team, a Max subscription is required.

👉 Best VPN for Finland abroad: NordVPN – excellent performance with Finnish servers, ideal for unlocking Max and TV5 content.

🇳🇴 Norway & 🇩🇰 Denmark – Public Broadcasting Rules

Both countries rely on long-standing public broadcasters:

• Norway 🇳🇴 – NRK will show all Norwegian games and other major matchups live and online via NRK TV.
• Denmark 🇩🇰 – DR and TV2 share coverage; both channels will show Team Denmark games on DR1 or TV2 Main, with replays and streaming on DRTV and TV2 Play.

👉 Best VPN for Scandinavia: ExpressVPN – fast, consistent access to NRK, DR, and TV2, especially on Smart TVs or mobile.

🇩🇪 Germany – Full Coverage Across ARD, ZDF & Max

Germany has one of the most viewer-friendly setups:

• ARD and ZDF will alternate broadcasting Germany’s games on TV and stream them via Mediathek.
• Eurosport 1 (SD) is also available Free-to-Air via satellite (Astra 19.2°E), giving casual viewers a third option.
• Max is the only platform where you can stream every single game live, including those that ARD/ZDF don’t cover.

💡 Look out for Leon Draisaitl (EDM Oilers) leading Team Germany — national broadcasters will heavily feature his games.

👉 Best VPN for Germany: NordVPN – reliable access to ARD, ZDF, Eurosport and Max, even from abroad.

🇨🇭 Switzerland – Trilingual Coverage at Its Best

Few countries match Switzerland’s Olympic hockey setup in terms of accessibility and language options.

• SRF (German), RTS (French), and RSI (Italian) will each broadcast Team Switzerland games live, with commentary in the corresponding language.
• SRG SSR, the umbrella organization, ensures 100% coverage on TV and free online streaming via their respective apps (e.g., SRF Play).
• For other games? Max fills the gap with multilingual audio options.

💬 If you’re a Swiss viewer abroad, just fire up your VPN and connect to Zurich, Geneva, or Lugano depending on your preferred language.

👉 Best VPN for Switzerland: Surfshark – strong Swiss server presence, works with all three public broadcasters and Max.

🇦🇹 Austria – ORF + Max Hybrid

Austria is a wildcard in terms of competitiveness but offers solid viewing options:

• ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk) will show Olympic content, including hockey, on ORF1 and ORF Sport+ — coverage of Austrian games is guaranteed.
• Max gives fans access to the entire tournament, making it essential for anyone who wants full international coverage.

💡 ORF’s website and ORF TVthek platform will also offer streams and highlights.

👉 Best VPN for Austria: ExpressVPN – quick setup for accessing ORF TVthek or Max from anywhere.

Comparison Table: Best Hockey Coverage in Europe

4. Central & Eastern Europe: National Pride on Full Display

From the historic hockey rivalries of Czechia and Slovakia to Italy’s hosting responsibilities and France’s growing interest in the sport, this region offers a rich, varied broadcast mix. Here’s what fans at home and abroad can expect.

🇨🇿 Czech Republic – ČT Sport Is the National Treasure

In Czechia, ice hockey is more than a sport — it’s part of the culture. Fans expect full coverage, in high quality, with Robert Záruba on commentary.

• Česká televize (ČT) holds the rights to all Olympic hockey involving Team Czech Republic.
• ČT Sport will air every Czech game live, on TV and via the ČT sport online platform.
• ČT Sport Plus allows viewers to follow simultaneous events or watch other teams via online streaming.

💡 Czech fans abroad will want to connect via VPN to a Czech server and watch via the ČT website — the experience is top-tier and free.

👉 Best VPN for Czechia: Surfshark – works reliably with ČT Sport, even when other VPNs get blocked.

🇸🇰 Slovakia – STVR Makes a Comeback

Slovakia returns to familiar territory in 2026 under a new broadcaster identity — STVR (formerly RTVS). It’s a major year for Slovak hockey, coming off their historic bronze medal in Beijing 2022.

• STVR :Šport, the dedicated sports channel, will cover all Slovakia games live.
• STVR web platform offers streaming and replays.
• Rádio Slovensko continues the tradition of live radio commentary — still widely followed in the country.

💡 Slovaks abroad can stream via STVR using a VPN — just be sure to connect to a local server (Bratislava or Košice).

👉 Best VPN for Slovakia: NordVPN – high-speed Slovak servers, perfect for both TV and radio access.

🇮🇹 Italy – Host Country With Dual Strategy: RAI & Max

As the host of Milano Cortina 2026, Italy is required by law to ensure wide accessibility for Olympic coverage — especially events involving Team Italy.

• RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) will broadcast all Team Italy games for free on RAI 2 and stream via RaiPlay.
• Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) holds the full rights to all other games. This means any non-Italy match (like Canada vs. Finland or USA vs. Germany) is available only on Max.

💡 Italy’s coverage will prioritize alpine skiing and luge in some slots, so hockey fans should expect to switch to Max for uninterrupted access.

👉 Best VPN for Italy: ExpressVPN – smooth access to both RAI and Max platforms, including RaiPlay from abroad.

🇫🇷 France – Growing Hockey Market, Split Access

France isn’t a traditional hockey superpower, but with Team France competing, coverage will be guaranteed — just not always in prime slots.

• France Télévisions (France 2 / France 3) will cover France’s group stage games and potential knockout rounds.
• Some matches might be moved to the France.tv platform if they clash with medal events in more popular sports.
• Eurosport / Max offers complete coverage of all games, including France vs. non-contenders.

💡 Serious fans in France should expect to use both public and premium platforms to follow the full tournament.

👉 Best VPN for France: Surfshark – works great with France.tv and Max, even when traveling.

📊 Broadcast Matrix: Olympic Ice Hockey in Central & Eastern Europe

5. Asia & Oceania: Passionate Pockets and Streaming Workarounds

🇯🇵 Japan – Reliable Public Access via NHK & Commercial Networks

While Japan isn’t among the top hockey nations in terms of medals, the sport has a solid following, especially during the Olympics.

• NHK (Japan’s public broadcaster) will cover men’s hockey matches involving Japan and key global showdowns like Canada vs. USA.
• Additional coverage often comes from commercial networks like TBS and Fuji TV, depending on the final sublicensing.
• Streaming is usually available on NHK Plus or through their Olympic digital hub.

💡 VPN to Japan is required to access NHK’s stream abroad. Quality is high, commentary is in Japanese, and they often provide detailed Olympic coverage across multiple channels.

👉 Best VPN for Japan: ExpressVPN – fast Tokyo servers and stable access to NHK & commercial networks.

🇰🇷 South Korea – All Eyes on JTBC

Korea is a growing hockey market, especially after hosting PyeongChang 2018.

• JTBC holds the exclusive Olympic rights, including men’s ice hockey.
• Coverage will appear on JTBC Golf & Sports, and streaming is available through their mobile app and web.
• Expect great storytelling, with a focus on Korea’s team and major global matchups.

💡 The JTBC website and apps are geo-blocked outside Korea — VPN is required for live access.

👉 Best VPN for Korea: NordVPN – smooth Korean servers, great speeds for HD streaming on JTBC.

🌏 Southeast Asia – No National Teams, But Access via VPN

Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines do not have participating teams in the hockey tournament, and no local broadcasters have announced full Olympic coverage.

• Historically, Olympic rights in the region are managed by Infront Sports & Media, with some sublicensing to platforms like TrueVisions in Thailand or Mediacorp in Singapore.
• For hockey fans in these countries, there’s no guaranteed stream — but a VPN opens up full access.

💡 Best option: Connect via VPN to Canada (for CBC Gem) or the UK (BBC iPlayer) for English-language hockey streams.

👉 Best VPN for Southeast Asia: Surfshark – consistently fast across Asia, unlocks UK, Canada, France, and Japan.

🇦🇺 Australia – 9Now Covers the Essentials, Stan Sport Offers It All

Australia may not field a men’s hockey team, but fans still follow the Olympic hockey tournament thanks to broad coverage.

• 9Now (free) will stream selected matches, including medal games and feature matchups like USA vs. Canada.
• Stan Sport (paid) will offer the full hockey tournament in high definition, with replays and 4K HDR coverage.

💡 Aussie fans abroad can use VPN to watch 9Now for free or access Stan Sport if they already subscribe.

👉 Best VPN for Australia: NordVPN – easily bypasses geo-blocks on 9Now and Stan Sport.

🇳🇿 New Zealand – Sky Sport Is the Key Player

• Sky Sport Now holds exclusive rights to all Olympic content in NZ, including the full men’s hockey tournament.
• Sky Open may show limited coverage on free-to-air, typically Team Canada or medal matches.

💡 VPN is required for anyone outside New Zealand. Sky’s app can be tricky with VPNs, so choosing the right provider is essential.

👉 Best VPN for New Zealand: ExpressVPN – top performance for Sky Sport, even on smart TVs.

🗺 Summary Table: Asia & Oceania Hockey Access (2026 Olympics)

Global Streaming Summary: Where to Watch Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey (2026)

How to Watch the Olympics 2026 Men’s Ice Hockey with a VPN (Step-by-Step)

1. Choose a VPN with proven performance
   • Best overall: NordVPN
   • For unlimited devices: Surfshark
   • For smart TVs and mobile: ExpressVPN
2. Download and install the VPN app
   • Works on phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, and routers
3. Connect to the server in the country of your broadcaster
   • Example: 🇨🇦 Canada for CBC Gem (free stream)
   • Example: 🇬🇧 UK for BBC iPlayer
4. Go to the broadcaster’s site or app
   • Open CBC.ca, BBC iPlayer, Peacock, or Max, depending on your VPN location
5. Start watching live or on-demand
   • Enjoy every match, in your language, wherever you are

🔧 Pro tip: Always clear cookies before switching VPN servers. Use Incognito mode for fewer errors.

FAQ: Men’s Ice Hockey at the Olympics 2026

Felix Schneider

A specialist in VPN protocols and mobile device security. At BestSafeVPN.com, he focuses exclusively on testing VPN apps for Android and iOS, analyzing their battery usage, stability on mobile networks, and level of protection when using public Wi-Fi. His goal is to find the perfect balance between performance and privacy on the go — and communicate it to readers in a clear and accessible way.When he's not analyzing mobile traffic, you'll find him in a sound studio composing electronic music, or out in the mountains with a backpack and a solar power bank. He believes online security should never limit freedom of movement or creativity.

See Full Bio