How to Watch the Olympics 2026 for Free by Country

The Winter Olympics are back and this time, all eyes are on Milano Cortina 2026. From the opening ceremony on February 6 to the final medal events on February 22, fans around the world will be tuning in to watch athletes push the limits of speed, skill and courage across snow and ice.

But what if you’re not in your home country? What if the broadcaster in your region isn’t streaming your favorite sport? Or worse – what if you’re completely blocked due to regional restrictions?

Here’s your ultimate guide to watching the Winter Olympics from anywhere in the world – including a full list of official broadcasters by country, plus how to bypass geo-blocks with a reliable VPN.

Quick VPN Guide – Stream the Olympics Like You’re Back Home

To access Olympic coverage from a different country (e.g. BBC in the UK or CBC in Canada), all you need is a trustworthy VPN. Here are three that work great for streaming Milano Cortina 2026:

Watch the Winter Olympics 2026: Country-by-Country Streaming Guide

The Olympic Committee has licensed media rights across the globe. Whether you’re in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas or the Pacific Islands, there’s (usually) an official way to stream. If your country isn’t listed or doesn’t have a broadcaster, you can easily switch your virtual location with a VPN and access Olympic streams elsewhere.

Below is a breakdown by region, with real tips for each zone.

1) Europe – How to Watch the Oympics 2026 for Free (By Country)

If you’re in Europe, you’ve got one of the best seats in the house to follow the Milano Cortina Winter Games. Most countries offer full Olympic coverage for free via public broadcasters — and the majority of it is available online in your native language.

Whether you love ski jumping, figure skating, ice hockey, or biathlon, Europe has it all. And if you happen to be abroad during the Games, a good VPN will bring your home country’s coverage right back to you in seconds.

• Get NordVPN – 77% Off & Stream Instantly
• Unlock Unlimited Streams with Surfshark
• Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free for 30 Days

🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Watch on BBC iPlayer

British viewers will enjoy full coverage on BBC iPlayer, with live broadcasts, replays, daily highlights, and in-depth reporting — all free of charge. Discovery+ also holds rights but requires a subscription. Outside the UK, BBC is blocked without a UK IP.

👉 Best VPN for the UK: ExpressVPN – stable for iPlayer, works great on Smart TVs and tablets.

🇫🇷 France – Free Access via France TV

In France, France TV delivers full Olympic coverage with French commentary, free live streams, and replays. It’s one of the easiest platforms to access via VPN, even abroad. HBO Max is also available if you prefer on-demand streaming.

👉 Best VPN for France: Surfshark – fast EU servers, unlimited devices, works on phones and laptops.

🇩🇪 Germany – ARD & ZDF Lead the Way

Germany is home to some of the best sports broadcasting. ARD and ZDF offer wall-to-wall Olympic content with high production value, German commentary, and extensive highlights. HBO Max is also an option for paid streaming.

👉 Best VPN for Germany: NordVPN – excellent German servers, ultra-fast, and stable even under load.

🇮🇹 Italy – Tune In via RAI

For viewers in Italy, RAI provides full coverage of the Games with live broadcasts and Italian commentary. It’s the perfect go-to for fans of alpine skiing and local athletes. HBO Max is available as a streaming alternative.

👉 Best VPN for Italy: Surfshark – reliable Italian servers, easy to use on mobile and desktop.

🇪🇸 Spain – Watch for Free on RTVE

Spanish-speaking fans can catch every Olympic moment on RTVE, with full coverage across TV, web, and mobile apps. From snowboarding to cross-country skiing, you’ll find it all in Spanish. HBO Max also carries content in Spain.

👉 Best VPN for Spain: NordVPN – strong Spain locations, no speed drops, and smooth playback.

🇸🇪🇩🇰🇳🇴🇫🇮 Scandinavia – Top Public Broadcasting

Scandinavia leads the way in quality public broadcasting. Whether you’re in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, or Finland, you’ll get free, native-language Olympic coverage with excellent production and local commentary. HBO Max is also available in the region.

👉 Best VPN for Scandinavia: ExpressVPN – ultra-stable Nordic servers, ideal for Smart TVs and 4K streams.

🔐 Is It Legal to Use a VPN in Europe?

Yes – using a VPN to access content from your home country is fully legal across the EU and most of Europe, as long as it’s for personal use. Just make sure to use a trusted VPN provider with a no-logs policy and fast, streaming-optimized servers.

2) North & South America – Free Streams in Some Countries, Paywalls in Others

Across the Americas, access to the Winter Olympics 2026 depends heavily on where you live. Some countries offer free and easy streaming through public broadcasters, while others hide most of the content behind subscription walls.

If you’re abroad or simply want coverage in another language — using a good VPN can open the door to free and high-quality Olympic streams from other regions.

🇺🇸 United States – Watch via Peacock or NBC

In the U.S., NBCUniversal owns the full broadcasting rights. That means you’ll find coverage on traditional cable, the NBCOlympics.com website, and Peacock streaming platform. English commentary, studio coverage, and 4K streams will be available — but most of it is paywalled.

💡 Peacock Premium is required for full coverage.

👉 Recommended VPN for the U.S.: NordVPN – reliably unlocks Peacock and NBC streams in HD without buffering.

🇨🇦 Canada – Best Free Coverage on CBC

Canada is a standout when it comes to free Olympic streaming. CBC Gem (English) and TOU.tv (French) offer full coverage, live events, replays, and highlights — all for free and accessible online. Even the national TV channel will air key events.

🎯 It’s one of the best ways to stream the Olympics legally and for free.

👉 Recommended VPN for Canada: Surfshark – super-fast Canadian servers, ideal for HD streaming on multiple devices.

🇲🇽 Mexico – Claro Sport & ViX in Spanish

Mexican viewers can enjoy the Games via Claro Sport and ViX, both offering free Spanish-language streams. Claro Sport has full event coverage, interviews, and highlight packages — all available on mobile or smart TV.

📱 Spanish-speaking fans traveling abroad can simply connect through a Mexico VPN server.

👉 Recommended VPN for Mexico: ExpressVPN – fast, stable servers in Mexico with great app support.

🇧🇷 Brazil – Globo Brings It All in Portuguese

In Brazil, the Olympic action will be broadcast by TV Globo, Sportv, and Globoplay, all in Portuguese. Major events are aired live on national TV, while Globoplay and Ge.globo provide streaming and replays.

🌐 Perfect for fans who want full coverage in Portuguese, from alpine skiing to figure skating.

👉 Recommended VPN for Brazil: NordVPN – excellent Brazil server performance, works flawlessly with Globo platforms.

🇦🇷 Argentina & 🇨🇱 Chile – Coverage via Claro Sport

Both Argentina and Chile will stream the Games through Claro Sport, which operates across Latin America. You’ll get daily event coverage, medal ceremonies, and highlights in Spanish. ViX may also be available depending on the region.

🟢 Reliable Spanish-language access from both countries, ideal for watching while abroad.

👉 Recommended VPN for Argentina & Chile: Surfshark – great speeds across South America, easy to use.

3) Other Latin American Countries – Use VPN to Unlock Claro Sport

Claro Sport also holds broadcasting rights for many other countries across Central and South America, including:

• 🇨🇴 Colombia
• 🇵🇪 Peru
• 🇪🇨 Ecuador
• 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
• 🇵🇦 Panama
• 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
• 🇬🇹 Guatemala
• 🇸🇻 El Salvador
• 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
• 🇵🇾 Paraguay
• 🇺🇾 Uruguay
• 🇧🇴 Bolivia
• 🇭🇳 Honduras

🎯 In all these countries, a VPN set to a local server will unlock full Olympic coverage on Claro Sport and ViX.

👉 Best overall VPN for Latin America: ExpressVPN – stable, fast, and great for streaming across the region.

🏝 Caribbean – No Broadcaster? Use VPN and Stream Internationally

Most Caribbean nations don’t have a dedicated broadcaster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck VPN access gives you a front-row seat to some of the world’s best coverage.

🌍 Best VPN strategies for Caribbean viewers:

• ✅ VPN to Canada → Free English & French streaming via CBC Gem
• ✅ VPN to UK → Watch live on BBC iPlayer in English
• ✅ VPN to Mexico → Access Claro Sport with Spanish commentary

4) Asia – Some Countries Have Full Access, Others Need a VPN

When it comes to Olympic streaming, Asia is all over the place. A few countries offer full official coverage with native-language broadcasts, while many others are left in the dark. In a lot of regions, access depends on whether local broadcasters made a deal with Infront Sports & Media — and in many cases, they didn’t.

But there’s good news: with the right VPN, you can still stream the Olympics like a local, no matter where you are.

🇯🇵 Japan – Watch for Free on NHK & TVer

Japan has some of the best Olympic coverage in Asia. NHK (TV and web) and TVer (app and web) offer full broadcasts in Japanese, including live events, replays, and even Olympic documentaries. TVer is free but geoblocked outside Japan.

🎌 Perfect for fans of figure skating, ski jumping, and curling.

👉 Recommended VPN for Japan: ExpressVPN – fast Tokyo servers, ideal for TVer and NHK access abroad.

🇰🇷 South Korea – Stream with JTBC & Naver

South Korean fans can watch the Olympics through JTBC and Naver. Expect great production and a strong focus on short track speed skating and curling — sports Korea dominates. Both platforms require a South Korean IP address to watch online.

💡 A VPN connection to a server in Seoul works flawlessly for both apps.

👉 Recommended VPN for Korea: NordVPN – excellent speeds and works across all Korean platforms.

🇮🇳 India & 🇵🇰 Pakistan – No Official Broadcaster (Use VPN)

As of now, there’s no confirmed broadcaster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka. If you’re in this region, you’ll need to stream the Games via a VPN.

🧭 Best workaround: VPN to the UK (BBC iPlayer), Canada (CBC Gem), or Japan (TVer) depending on your preferred language.

👉 Best all-round VPN for India & Pakistan: Surfshark – budget-friendly and unblocks all major Olympic platforms.

🇻🇳 🇹🇭 🇸🇬 🇮🇩 Southeast Asia – Most Platforms Still Unconfirmed

Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia are covered by Infront Sports’ regional rights, but official broadcasters haven’t been announced yet. Past Olympics often had only highlight coverage in these regions — so your best bet is to use a VPN.

📲 VPN to Canada or UK is the most reliable choice for English-speaking coverage.

👉 Best VPN for Southeast Asia: ExpressVPN – consistently fastest in Asia, works across all devices.

🏔 Other Asian Countries (Central Asia + Nearby)

Most Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are still waiting for official broadcaster announcements. It’s a similar story across Mongolia and parts of West Asia.

Use these VPN tips to unlock access:

• Central Asia → VPN to France (France TV), UK (BBC), or Canada (CBC)
• No Russia-based VPNs are recommended due to potential restrictions or reliability

👉 Best VPN for Central Asia: Surfshark – wide global server network and great for unlocking EU-based streams.

🌊 Oceania – Excellent English Streams, Free & Premium

If you’re in Australia or New Zealand, you’ll have solid Olympic coverage in English. Both countries offer mobile-friendly apps, Smart TV support, and full live access — though some options are free, and others require a subscription.

🇦🇺 Australia – 9Now and Stan Sport Lead the Coverage

Australian viewers can stream the Winter Olympics on 9Now for free, or subscribe to Stan Sport for extra coverage. Both offer live and replay access with English commentary.

🎿 Great destination for winter sports fans who want HD coverage with an Aussie accent.

👉 Recommended VPN for Australia: NordVPN – excellent streaming speeds and unlocks 9Now easily.

🇳🇿 New Zealand – Premium Streams on Sky Sport

Sky Sport owns the official Olympic rights in New Zealand. Most content is behind a paywall, but Sky Open may broadcast select events for free. VPN access is required outside of NZ.

⛷ VPN to New Zealand unlocks all these platforms on mobile, desktop or smart TVs.

👉 Best VPN for New Zealand: ExpressVPN – stable NZ servers, ideal for Sky Sport Now access abroad.

5) Middle East – No Confirmed Coverage (Use VPN)

Unfortunately, there are no official broadcasters announced yet for most Middle Eastern countries. This includes:

• UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman
• Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Yemen

🎯 Your best bet is a VPN connection to one of the following:

• UK → BBC iPlayer
• Canada → CBC Gem
• France → France TV

👉 Best VPN for Middle East viewers: NordVPN – offers obfuscated servers and works well even under tight network restrictions.

6) How to Use a VPN to Watch the Olympics from Anywhere

If your country’s broadcaster isn’t available where you live — or you’re traveling and facing annoying “this content is not available in your region” messages — a VPN is the easiest fix.

Here’s how to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics using a VPN:

Step-by-Step VPN Setup for Streaming

1. Choose a reliable VPN
   We recommend: NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN (all tested and stream-friendly)

2. Download and install the app
   Works on phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, Firesticks, and routers
3. Connect to the right country server
   • UK for BBC iPlayer
   • Canada for CBC Gem
   • France for France TV
   • Japan for TVer
   • Australia for 9Now
4. Open the official streaming site
   Go to the broadcaster’s website or app and start watching — live or on-demand
5. Enjoy the Games in your preferred language
   Many platforms even offer subtitles or alternate audio tracks

🛠 Common VPN Streaming Problems (And How to Fix Them)

Even with a VPN, things don’t always go smoothly. Here’s what can go wrong — and how to fix it:

💡 Tip: Always clear your cookies and restart the app after switching servers.

Final Tips Before the Games Begin

• Install your VPN early — don’t wait until the opening ceremony
• Test your stream in advance to make sure everything works
• Bookmark your broadcaster (e.g. bbc.co.uk/iplayer, gem.cbc.ca, france.tv)
• Know your time zone — Italy is UTC+1 (CET), so plan your viewing schedule
• Use mobile apps or Smart TV apps — all major VPNs support these platforms

Summary: Best Way to Watch Milano Cortina 2026 from Anywhere

Ready to Watch the Olympics? Here’s Your Next Step:

Choose your VPN, connect to the right country, and unlock full access to the Winter Olympics — in your language, from any device, wherever you are.

• Get NordVPN – 77% Off & Stream Instantly
• Unlock Unlimited Streams with Surfshark
• Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free for 30 Days

FAQ

Source: official website, family venclikovi

Štěpán Vlček

A technical analyst and content specialist focused on VPNs, digital privacy, and modern technology. At BestSafeVPN.com, he tests individual services, analyzes connection speeds, geo-unblocking capabilities, and overall user experience. He combines a keen eye for detail with the ability to explain complex topics in a clear and understandable way. Thanks to his systematic approach, he helps readers navigate technologies that protect their online privacy.In his free time, he enjoys cybersecurity, network technologies, and the open-source community. He also loves cycling, playing hockey and football, and believes that technology should serve people — not track them.

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