How to Watch the Olympics in Ireland/UK: Free & Paid Options 2026

Few things bring the world together like the Olympics, but pinning down where to watch can feel like a sport in itself—especially in Ireland or the UK, where the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo offer a mix of free and paid viewing options. This guide lays out every legal way to tune in, from RTÉ Player to BBC iPlayer and beyond, so you can catch the action without the hassle.

Official broadcaster in Ireland: RTÉ and Eurosport (via Virgin Media) ·
Free streaming option: Peacock (US) with ads; RTÉ Player (Ireland) ·
YouTube official channel: Olympic Channel on YouTube ·
2026 Winter Olympics host: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Several key facts about coverage, timing, and access have been confirmed. The table below gathers the most important ones.

How to watch the Olympics in Ireland?

Free options on RTÉ

• RTÉ will broadcast the Games across RTÉ One and RTÉ2, with the Opening Ceremony live at 6:55pm on Friday 6 February 2026 (RTÉ (Ireland’s public broadcaster)).
• The coverage includes live events on RTÉ News Channel and a nightly highlights show from 10pm to 11pm (RTÉ).

Eurosport via Virgin Media

• Eurosport 1 and 2 are available through Virgin Media subscriptions in Ireland, offering extensive coverage of all winter sports (Virgin Media Ireland (cable provider)).

Streaming on RTÉ Player

• RTÉ Player will stream events featuring Ireland’s four athletes, starting with Cormac Comerford in downhill skiing on Saturday 7 February from 10:20am to 12:45pm (RTÉ).
• The Player will also carry almost 40 hours of live coverage across 12 days of competition (RTÉ Sport).

The pattern: RTÉ remains the primary free source for Irish viewers, with additional paid options for broader coverage.

Can I watch the Olympics for free?

Free streaming in Ireland (RTÉ Player)

• RTÉ Player is free with registration for viewers in Ireland. It will stream all events featuring Irish athletes and provide a nightly highlights show on demand (RTÉ).

Free streaming in the UK (BBC iPlayer)

• BBC iPlayer is free for UK residents with a TV licence. The BBC holds rights to the Winter Olympics through 2032 and will stream extensive coverage (BBC Sport).

Free streaming via YouTube Olympic Channel

• The official Olympic Channel on YouTube offers free highlights and selected live streams globally, including events from the 2026 Winter Games (Olympic Channel (official YouTube channel)).

The implication: free access is widely available, but the depth of coverage varies significantly by region and service.

What TV channel will the Olympics be on?

RTÉ One and RTÉ2 for Ireland

• RTÉ One and RTÉ2 will carry live coverage, with the Opening Ceremony broadcast from 6:55pm to 9:30pm on February 6, 2026 (RTÉ).

BBC One and BBC iPlayer for the UK

• BBC One and BBC Two will show live events, with BBC iPlayer offering full streaming for licence fee payers (BBC Sport).

Eurosport 1 and 2 for cable viewers

• Eurosport 1 and 2 provide extensive winter sports coverage across Europe, available through satellite, cable, and streaming via discovery+ (Eurosport).

What this means: terrestrial channels RTÉ and BBC are the go-to for free live TV, while Eurosport adds depth for cable subscribers.

Which streaming service has the Olympics?

Peacock (US)

• Peacock streams all events live in the US, including an ad-supported free tier (Peacock).

BBC iPlayer (UK)

• BBC iPlayer offers free streaming in the UK with a TV licence (BBC Sport).

Eurosport Player / discovery+ (Europe)

• Discovery+ (formerly Eurosport Player) provides full coverage of the Winter Olympics across Europe via a paid subscription (Discovery+).

RTÉ Player (Ireland)

• RTÉ Player streams select events and highlights for free in Ireland (RTÉ).

YouTube (highlights and some live streams)

• The official Olympic Channel on YouTube offers free highlights and selected live coverage globally (Olympic Channel).

Here is a quick comparison of the main streaming services.

The catch: only paid services guarantee access to every event live and on demand; free options are limited to highlights or country-specific selections.

Where to watch Winter Olympics 2026 for free in Ireland?

RTÉ Player (free with registration)

• RTÉ Player is the primary free streaming option in Ireland, offering live coverage on 12 days and nearly 40 hours of events, plus a nightly highlights show on demand (RTÉ).

BBC iPlayer (may be accessible via VPN)

• BBC iPlayer is technically free but requires a UK TV licence and IP address. Some viewers in Ireland use a VPN, though the legal status of this workaround is unclear.

Olympic Channel on YouTube (free)

• The Olympic Channel on YouTube provides free highlights and select live streams, making it a handy global option (Olympic Channel).

The pattern: free options in Ireland hinge on RTÉ, with the YouTube channel as a backup for highlights.

How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics online for free?

Free trials on streaming platforms

• Peacock offers a free trial period for new users in the US (Peacock). Discovery+ similarly offers a trial in many European markets.

YouTube Olympic Channel

• The official Olympic Channel on YouTube streams highlights and some live events free of charge worldwide (Olympic Channel).

Regional broadcasters offering free streams

• In Ireland, RTÉ Player is the main free streamer. In the UK, BBC iPlayer is free with a licence. Other European broadcasters may offer free streams in their respective countries.

The implication: free online access works best for casual viewers; dedicated fans will likely need a subscription.

Step-by-step guide to watching the 2026 Winter Olympics

1. Determine your location. The available broadcasters depend on whether you are in Ireland, the UK, or elsewhere. In Ireland, RTÉ is the free-to-air option; in the UK, it’s BBC.
2. Choose free or paid. Free options: RTÉ Player (Ireland), BBC iPlayer (UK), YouTube Olympic Channel. Paid options: discovery+, Peacock (US), Virgin Media (Ireland) for Eurosport.
3. Set up your device. Install the app (RTÉ Player, BBC iPlayer, discovery+, etc.) on your smart TV, phone, tablet, or computer. Ensure your internet connection can handle live streaming.
4. Check the schedule. RTÉ will publish its full schedule closer to February 2026. Key dates: Opening Ceremony Feb 6, Closing Ceremony Feb 22. Irish athlete events start Feb 7.
5. Watch live or catch up. Most services offer live streams and on-demand highlights. RTÉ Player will have a nightly highlights show from 10pm to 11pm.

What this means: a few simple steps ensure you won’t miss the action, regardless of your region or budget.

Timeline: Winter Olympics 2026 key dates

• February 6, 2026 – Opening ceremony (6:55pm – 9:30pm on RTÉ) (RTÉ Sport)
• February 6–22, 2026 – Competition period (RTÉ)
• February 22, 2026 – Closing ceremony (6:45pm – 9:30pm on RTÉ) (RTÉ Sport)
• Summer 2028 – Next Summer Olympics (Los Angeles)

The pattern: the Olympics run for just over two weeks, with ceremonies bookending the action.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• RTÉ will broadcast the Winter Olympics 2026 in Ireland with live TV and streaming.
• Eurosport holds rights across Europe.
• BBC holds UK rights through 2032.
• Peacock will stream in the US with a free ad-supported tier.
• Discovery+ offers full coverage in Europe.
• The Olympic Channel on YouTube provides free highlights.

What’s unclear

• Exact schedule of free streams on RTÉ Player is not yet announced.
• Whether BBC iPlayer will be accessible in Ireland via VPN is legally unclear.
• Full list of events streamed for free on YouTube is not confirmed.
• It is unclear whether the free tier of Peacock will include all live events or only select ones.
• The exact number of hours of free coverage on YouTube is not announced.
• Whether RTÉ Player will provide live streams for all 8 sports or only those involving Irish athletes is not fully detailed.

The implication: while key rights are locked in, the fine print of free streaming coverage remains to be seen.

What officials are saying

“RTÉ is committed to bringing the Winter Olympics to Irish audiences across TV, online, and radio. We are delighted to confirm live coverage of the 2026 Games, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and all events featuring Irish athletes.”

— RTÉ spokesperson, in the coverage announcement (RTÉ (Ireland’s public broadcaster))

“The BBC continues its long tradition of Olympic coverage. We have secured rights for both Summer and Winter Games through to 2032, ensuring UK audiences can watch the world’s greatest athletes on free-to-air television and iPlayer.”

— BBC Sport director, as reported by BBC Sport (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster))

The choice for Irish viewers is straightforward: stick with RTÉ Player for free access, or subscribe to discovery+ for every event live. For UK audiences, BBC iPlayer remains the best free option. The pattern is clear — free coverage exists, but it comes with limits in breadth and scheduling flexibility. The consequence for anyone wanting full, uninterrupted access in 2026 is to budget for a paid service like discovery+ or, if in the US, Peacock.

Frequently asked questions