Overview of Ice Hockey Coverage
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina will feature a full slate of ice‑hockey matches, from group play to the gold‑medal final. Broadcasters across the globe have secured rights, and most offer an online streaming option – many of which can be accessed for free with a trial or a VPN.
United States
In the US the games are split between NBC, USA Network and CNBC. The most reliable way to see every match is via the Peacock streaming service.
- Peacock Premium – $10.99 / month or $109.99 / year (all games live)
- Free 21‑day trial of YouTube TV gives access to NBC, USA Network and CNBC
- Alternative OTT services (Sling TV, Hulu Live) also carry the channels
United Kingdom & Ireland
BBC holds the free‑to‑air rights.
- BBC One / BBC Two – limited live games (mainly later‑stage matches)
- BBC iPlayer – live stream of the broadcast feed
- BBC Sport website – digital‑only feed with additional highlights
If you travel abroad, use a VPN (e.g., Norton VPN) to connect to a UK server and watch BBC iPlayer or Discovery+ from anywhere.
Canada
CBC is the official partner.
- CBC Television – select games on free‑to‑air TV
- CBC Gem – subscription service with full live and on‑demand coverage (over 2,000 hours of content)
Use a VPN to reach CBC Gem when you are outside Canada.
Australia & New Zealand
Broadcasters in these regions typically use a mix of free‑to‑air and subscription platforms. The safest route is a VPN to a local server (UK or Canada) and then follow the steps above.
Other International Free Streams
Non‑English language broadcasters also provide free streams:
- ORF (Austria)
- RTBF / VRT (Belgium)
- DR (Denmark)
- France TV (France)
- RAI (Italy)
- Yle (Finland)
- ZDF (Germany)
- RUV (Iceland)
- NOS (Netherlands)
- NRK (Norway)
- TVP (Poland)
- RTVE (Spain)
- Canal Nu9ve (Mexico)
- SRF / RTS (Switzerland)
Most of these channels have their own streaming apps or web portals that can be reached via a VPN.
Using a VPN to Unlock Streams
A VPN masks your IP address and makes it appear as if you are browsing from the broadcaster’s home country. This is useful when:
- You are traveling and want to keep watching your home service
- Your provider does not carry the required channel
- You need to bypass geo‑restrictions for free‑trial offers
Choose a reputable provider (e.g., Norton VPN) and connect to a server in the appropriate country before launching the streaming app.
Disclaimer
All VPN usage described here assumes legal, recreational purposes and respects the terms of service of each streaming platform. We do not endorse piracy or any illegal activity.