Milano Cortina 2026 awards Paralympic broadcast rights in Japan

Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 has announced that it has awarded exclusive broadcast rights for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games to the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) in Japan. 

NHK will bring the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games to audiences across Japan through linear free television, digital platforms, and audio.

Andrea Varnier, CEO of Milano Cortina 2026, said: “We are very pleased to have NHK by our side for the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games, a broadcaster that has always supported the Paralympic Movement. Their long tradition of celebrating the achievements of Paralympic athletes is an extraordinary asset, and we are certain they will offer the Japanese audience top-quality coverage, enriched by excellent broadcasts and authoritative, engaging sports commentary for Milano Cortina 2026 as well.

“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to promoting inclusion, passion, and the extraordinary stories that make the Paralympic Games unique, while also highlighting the quality of the technical skills that make the athletes true protagonists. The agreement with NHK also confirms the interest and attention that Milano Cortina 2026 is attracting worldwide."

NHK has been a key broadcaster for the Paralympic Games for decades, beginning its coverage with the Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games. This new agreement follows NHK’s landmark deal covering PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, and Paris 2024. It reinforces the broadcaster’s commitment to the Paralympic Movement and delivering high-quality Paralympic content to Japanese audiences.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were covered by a record 225 Media Rights Holders and 763.3 hours of dedicated live coverage was consumed by viewers worldwide. The cumulative audience for Japan stood at 351.62 million with 595.01 million hours viewed.

At the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, Japan finished ninth on the overall medals table with seven medals, including four gold. Para alpine skier Momoka Muraoka won the most medals for the country, clinching three golds in women’s downhill, Super-G, and giant slalom events.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 6-15 March, 2026 and will mark 50 years since the first Paralympic Winter Games were held in 1976 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and 20 years since Torino 2006, making it a landmark moment for the Paralympic Movement. It will feature up to 655 Para athletes competing in 79 medal events across six sports.

Tickets for Milano Cortina 2026 are on sale on the official ticketing platform, with nearly 90 per cent priced at EUR 35 or less.