Broadcast coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 spans the globe

Milano Cortina 2026 will be the most widely broadcast Paralympic Winter Games in history with 20 Media Rights Holders ensuring global coverage of the event that this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In total the Games will be broadcast in a record 126 countries by Media Rights Holders on their linear free-to-air and Pay TV channels, and streaming, digital, social and audio platforms. In the remaining countries, the global stream will be available on the official Games digital platforms.

The extensive live global coverage will include the 79 medal events of all six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling. Although the Opening Ceremony took place on 6 March at the Arena Di Verona, competition and broadcast coverage of wheelchair curling began on 4 March. A record 611 Para athletes from 55 National Paralympic Committees are competing in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games which will close on 15 March.

Dr Mike Peters PLY, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are set to be the greatest yet in terms of sport performance and also the most beautiful to-date in terms of sport venues, This combination has proven a very attractive proposition for Media Rights Holders and we are delighted that Milano Cortina 2026 will have such record-breaking extensive global coverage spanning linear, streaming, digital and audio platforms.

“The broadcast coverage of the Paralympic Winter Games is not just instrumental in engaging billions of people in the event, but in showing strength in difference and changing attitudes towards persons with disability. Research conducted after Paris 2024 found 73 per cent of TV viewers had a more positive perception of people with disabilities after watching the Paralympic Games. A further 80 per cent felt the Games made them feel more positive about the abilities of persons with disabilities. We are confident Milano Cortina 2026 will have a similar impact with TV audiences.

“While the widespread global coverage is fantastic, we are delighted to see more and more Media Rights Holders fronting their broadcasts with presenters and commentators who have a disability and utilising Paralympians who can provide in-depth knowledge and analysis of each of the sports. Several Media Rights Holders are also embracing the latest technologies for an inclusive experience for vision and hearing-impaired fans and viewers.”

Andrea Varnier, Chief Executive Officer at Fondazione Milano Cortina said: "The collaboration with national and international broadcasters will ensure wide-ranging, accessible and high-quality coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, reflecting our commitment to bringing world‑class performances, the talent and the stories of Paralympic athletes into the homes of millions of people around the globe.

“The Paralympic Games’ impact in transforming public attitudes is now well recognised, and Milano Cortina 2026 will further reinforce this positive change. Milano Cortina 2026 will not be just a sporting event, but a global platform capable of inspiring millions and spreading the values of resilience, participation and inclusion."

Extensive European coverage 

In the host nation, RAI will provide live coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and all six sports, offering up to 300 hours of programming throughout the Games. It will also feature in-depth reports, and original productions that spotlight athletes and host territories. In addition to sports coverage, RAI will contribute through dedicated programming aimed at promoting a more inclusive and informed sports culture.

Across Europe, there will be the most comprehensive coverage yet for a Paralympic Winter Games. European Broadcasting Union (EBU) through 29 of its members will deliver free-to-air TV and radio coverage across continental Europe (with the exception of Italy and the United Kingdom). Together, broadcasters will offer audiences at least 900 hours of free-to-air multi-platform coverage, ensuring wide public access to the Paralympic Winter Games. Eurovision Sport, the EBU’s premier free streaming platform, will also broadcast live coverage of all six sports across Europe. For the first time, as part of the EBU partnership, Warner Bros. Discovery will broadcast daily sport competition highlights on their linear sports channels. This combined coverage of EBU Member broadcasters, Eurovision Sport streaming platform, and Warner Brothers Discovery sports channels, will deliver the most significant reach across Europe.

Milano Cortina 2026 will mark UK broadcaster Channel 4’s eighth consecutive Paralympic Games broadcast since London 2012, continuing its mission to bring Paralympic sport to mainstream audiences and champion disability representation across the UK media landscape. Channel 4 will provide extensive coverage of the Games across its linear and streaming channels. UK audiences will be able to watch the Paralympic Winter Games via free-to-air television and on-demand streaming services, ensuring broad and inclusive access.

Coverage in the Americas

In the USA, NBCUniversal will produce more than 270 hours of total programming across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC, and NBC Sports Digital platforms, along with a record amount of primetime hours on NBC. The broadcaster also announced 24 commentators, including six Paralympians, who will anchor its coverage of the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

CBC/Radio-Canada will provide more than 120 original hours of coverage on CBC TV and ICI TÉLÉ,plus an additional 800 hours of live streaming coverage across multiple platforms. Its English and French services will produce daily programming throughout the Games, including a primetime show on CBC channels and a late-night show on Radio-Canada's platforms. Live streams and full replays will be available on CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV. 

Claro/America Movil continues their outstanding partnership with the Paralympic Movement and will offer extensive coverage of the Paralympic Winter Games to audiences in 17 nations across Latin America, including Mexico. Claro Sports will broadcast full live coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and live sport competition on Claro’s Digital Platforms including Claro Video, Claro Sports, Claro Sports 2, Claro Sports 3 and Claro Sports 4.

Globo will bring the Games to audiences across Brazil through linear free television, pay TV, digital platforms and audio.  sportv, Globo’s pay TV sports channel, first broadcast the Paralympic Winter Games at Sochi 2014 and has since aired every Paralympic Games, consistently leading viewership among all Brazilian pay TV channels during the Paralympic period. 

Asia and Oceania Coverage  

NHK will bring the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games to audiences across Japan through live streams, on-demand videos, and daily highlights for all sports and events featuring Japanese athletes. It will also produce short videos from its on-site reporting teams, capturing the the atmosphere and key moments from the Games.

The Japanese broadcaster will also use its Sign Language CG technology, which converts Japanese text into sign language through computer generated characters. Developed by NHK with input from persons with hearing impairments, the technology supports accessibility services and is already used on selected NHK ONE web pages. 

Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) will broadcast and distribute the Milano Cortina 2026 Games across its free-to-air, pay-TV, digital, and audio platforms in South Korea. KBS will also provide extensive live and on demand coverage of the Games, through its platforms including KBS1, KBS2, KBSN, KBS+, and official digital channels. KBS will also lead promotional campaigns to enhance audience engagement and support the growth of Paralympic sport. 

In Australia, Nine will bring the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games to audiences across the country with over 300 hours of coverage across Nine, 9Now and Stan Sport. It will also have a daily highlights programme on Nine and 9Gem while every event will be streamed live on 9Now and Stan Sport. Australia's most decorated female Paralympian, Ellie Cole will also be on the ground in Cortina d’Ampezzo to share stories and highlights from the Games.

In New Zealand national public broadcaster TVNZ, will offer full LIVE coverage of the Opening and Closing ceremonies.  Live coverage of all sport events of national interest will be broadcast on TVNZ’s free-to-air linear channel, and all the live feeds will be broadcast on TVNZ’s owned digital platforms. 

Africa

SuperSport will once again deliver the Paralympic Winter Games to the 50 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.  Para sport fans and new audiences will have access to the best moments of the day from Milano, Cortina and Val di Fiemme, across SuperSport channels and digital platforms.    

Other territories

Paralympic fans and audiences around the world and outside the territories above, will engage with tremendous sports competition in multiple ways. Subject to geo-blocking restrictions, the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games will also be streamed on Paralympic.org as well as the Paralympic YouTube channel @paralympics.  The Paralympic Winter Games will also be streamed on the Olympic Channel.  

For complete details of where to watch and listen to the Milano Cortina 2026 Games please visit Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games: Where to watch and listen.