For me, there’s no more highly anticipated event at the Winter Games than hockey. The energy, the speed, and the international rivalries—especially the perennial battle between the U.S. and Canada in the women’s tournament—make it must-watch TV every four years.
The next competitions are set for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy. This location means North American fans will need to prepare for a time difference, but the good news is that many games will take place during prime morning and mid-day hours for the Eastern and Central time zones.
Anticipation is sky-high for the men’s tournament, with the highly anticipated return of NHL players. This development instantly elevates the level of competition and stakes.
In this guide, I’ll break down exactly where you can find every power play, penalty shot, and gold medal moment. Whether you prefer streaming or cable, I’ll ensure you’re ready to watch every Olympic hockey game live on TV this February.
What channel is Olympic hockey on?
NBCUniversal holds the exclusive U.S. broadcast rights for the Winter Olympics. That means all men’s and women’s ice hockey coverage will be split across NBC Sports’ massive ecosystem.
Live game coverage will air on USA Network and CNBC, while NBC will focus on primetime recaps and featured matches. Meanwhile, every single game of the men’s and women’s tournaments will stream live on Peacock. You can also find Spanish-language coverage of select games on Telemundo or UNIVERSO.
Pro tip: In Canada, the Olympics are broadcast by a partnership between CBC/Radio-Canada, TSN, and Sportsnet. Full coverage of all games is generally available to stream for free on CBC Gem.
2026 Winter Olympic hockey schedule
Both the men’s and women’s Olympic ice hockey tournaments feature group stages followed by intense elimination rounds. In 2026, the women’s tournament will kick off on Thursday, February 5, one day before the Opening Ceremony. The men’s tournament will begin on Wednesday, February 11.
Given that Milan is six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET), the preliminary and quarter-final games will generally start between 6:30 a.m. ET and 2:00 p.m. ET. This is actually ideal for viewers on the U.S. East Coast, as you can catch full games over your breakfast or during a long lunch.
To maximize your viewing, I recommend checking back on the full TV schedules below as we progress through each tournament.
Men’s Olympic hockey schedule
| Match | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | |||
| Slovakia vs. Finland | Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Sweden vs. Italy | Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Switzerland vs. France | Thursday, Feb. 12 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Czechia vs. Canada | Thursday, Feb. 12 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Latvia vs. USA | Thursday, Feb. 12 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Germany vs. Denmark | Thursday, Feb. 12 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Finland vs. Sweden | Friday, Feb. 13 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Italy vs. Slovakia | Friday, Feb. 13 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| France vs. Czechia | Friday, Feb. 13 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Canada vs. Switzerland | Friday, Feb. 13 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Sweden vs. Slovakia | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Germany vs. Latvia | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Finland vs. Italy | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| USA vs. Denmark | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Switzerland vs. Czechia | Sunday, Feb. 15 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Canada vs. France | Sunday, Feb. 15 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Denmark vs. Latvia | Sunday, Feb. 15 | 1:10 p.m. | TBA |
| USA vs. Germany | Sunday, Feb. 15 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Playoffs | |||
| TBD | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Quarterfinals | |||
| TBD | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 12:10 p.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Semifinals | |||
| TBD | Friday, Feb. 20 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Friday, Feb. 20 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Finals | |||
| Bronze Medal Match | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 2:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Gold Medal Match | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 8:10 a.m. | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
Women’s Olympic hockey schedule
| Match | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | |||
| Sweden vs. Germany | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Italy vs. France | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 8:40 a.m. | TBA |
| USA vs. Czechia | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Finland vs. Canada | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| France vs. Japan | Friday, Feb. 6 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Czechia vs. Switzerland | Friday, Feb. 6 | 8:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Germany vs. Japan | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Sweden vs. Italy | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 8:40 a.m. | TBA |
| USA vs. Finland | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Switzerland vs. Canada | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| France vs. Sweden | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Czechia vs. Finland | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Japan vs. Italy | Monday, Feb. 9 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Germany vs. France | Monday, Feb. 9 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Switzerland vs. USA | Monday, Feb. 9 | 2:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Canada vs. Czechia | Monday, Feb. 9 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Japan vs. Sweden | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 6:10 a.m. | TBA |
| Italy vs. Germany | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Canada vs. USA | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 2:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Finland vs. Switzerland | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Quarterfinals | |||
| TBD | Friday, Feb. 13 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Friday, Feb. 13 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Semifinals | |||
| TBD | Monday, Feb. 16 | 10:40 a.m. | TBA |
| TBD | Monday, Feb. 16 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Finals | |||
| Bronze Medal Match | Thursday, Feb. 19 | 8:40 a.m. | TBA |
| Gold Medal Match | Thursday, Feb. 19 | 1:10 p.m. | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
Best ways to watch Olympic hockey
Watching ice hockey during the Olympics requires access to several different NBC Sports channels, which can get complicated with traditional TV packages. Having a single, comprehensive plan is essential to ensure a stress-free viewing experience for every game day.
Below are my top recommendations for guaranteed access.
Best overall: Peacock
Peacock is the must-have service for the 2026 Winter Olympics, especially for hockey fans. With a Peacock Premium subscription, you get a live stream of every single men’s and women’s hockey game, ensuring you don’t miss any action, especially those not shown on traditional TV channels.
As the digital home for the Winter Games in the U.S., Peacock is where you’ll find several dedicated features. One of my favorites is Gold Zone, hosted by Scott Hanson, which offers live whip-around coverage of all the most exciting moments happening simultaneously. You’ll also get top-tier commentary on the main feeds from a deep roster of talent, including lead play-by-play voice Kenny Albert and analysts Eddie Olczyk, AJ Mleczko, and Brian Boucher.
For the cost of a single monthly subscription, Peacock delivers unmatched comprehensive live and on-demand access to the entire Olympic hockey schedule.
Best live TV service: YouTube TV
If you’re looking for a comprehensive cable-alternative package that carries every necessary NBCUniversal channel, YouTube TV is the best choice. This service includes all the crucial Olympic channels needed, such as NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. It even has the relaunched NBC Sports Network.
YouTube TV is perfect for fans who prefer the feel of a traditional TV guide and want to use a superior DVR feature to record and save games for later viewing. While it provides a robust platform for watching Olympics broadcasts, remember that some content, including dedicated feeds and features, will be exclusive to Peacock.
For the ultimate live TV and Olympic combo, I recommend pairing YouTube TV with a standalone Peacock Premium subscription.
Watch Olympic ice hockey FAQ
Can I watch Olympic hockey for free?
Yes, you can watch select primetime hockey replays on your local NBC affiliate using an over-the-air antenna. But you'll need a free live TV streaming trial from DIRECTV or YouTube TV to watch live games airing on USA Network or CNBC. Unfortunately, Peacock doesn't offer a free trial.
How can I watch Olympic hockey replays?
The best way to watch replays is through Peacock, which offers full event replays on demand shortly after the live broadcast ends. If you watch via a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, you can use its built-in cloud DVR to record and save games for later.
Where's Olympic hockey taking place in 2026?
The 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournaments will be held in Italy, with the primary venues located in the Milan area. Games will take place at the PalaItalia and one of the Fiera Milano pavilions.
Who are the favorites to win gold in Olympic ice hockey?
Historically, the women's gold is almost always contested between Canada and the U.S., but the men's competition is much deeper. The return of NHL players brings Sweden, Finland, and Czechia into the mix as legitimate contenders, though the U.S. and Canada remain the teams to beat.
Will full hockey games be shown on the NBC channel?
No, NBC will primarily show highlights and often re-air gold medal games. The majority of the live group stage and knockout games for the men's and women's tournaments will be on USA Network, CNBC, or streamed exclusively on Peacock.
Why you should trust us
CableTV.com contributor Ian McLaren researched the official NBCUniversal broadcast schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics. His goal was to determine the best ways to watch every men’s and women’s Olympic hockey game. He then compared live TV services and dedicated apps based on their pricing, features, and total hockey coverage to find the most reliable ways to tune in.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
