#FIRSTLOOK: CBC’S LIVE COVERAGE OF THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES MILANO CORTINA BEGINS FEBRUARY 6, 2026

For those wondering, CBC’s live coverage of the Opening Ceremony begins Friday, February 6, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT) on CBC, CBC News Network and CBC Gem. CBC Olympics host Andi Petrillo to be joined by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Alessia Cara for Pre-Ceremony Show; CBC News Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault and CBC Olympics reporter Devin Heroux to host CBC’s live coverage of the Opening Ceremony.

Coverage of Team Canada begins Thursday, February 5 on CBC and CBC Gem with Mixed Doubles Curling and Women’s Hockey.

CBC invites audiences across the country to mark the official start of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Friday, February 6 with live coverage of the Opening Ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT) on CBC, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, Sportsnet and TSN.

The excitement begins at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT) on February 6, with the countdown to the Opening Ceremony, hosted by CBC Olympics host Andi Petrillo. Petrillo will be joined in-studio by JUNO and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Alessia Cara, whose Italian roots trace back to Calabria. The pre-show builds anticipation for the big event, showcasing stars from the sports, arts and entertainment world and concluding with the exclusive world premiere of The Gold Within: Family & Fire, an inspiring short film featuring Alessia Cara and professional figure skater Elladj Baldé.

Then at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), CBC News Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault and Olympics reporter Devin Heroux guide audiences through the Opening Ceremony, showcasing Canada’s athletes and the world’s best. Set in the iconic San Siro Stadium, the ceremony will pay tribute to Leonardo da Vinci and the great inventors, Italian design, taste and music. Performers will include Italian actress Matilda De Angelis, American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, Italian artist Laura Pausini, and world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Following the main event, a live reaction show hosted by CBC Olympics digital host Mackenzie Barwell will be available on the CBC Sports YouTube channel, breaking down athlete arrivals, performances and more. A primetime encore of the Opening Ceremony will broadcast on CBC and CBC Gem at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).

CBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony will be presented in an accessible manner with closed captioning, described video and ASL integrations. In addition, all of CBC’s daytime (starting at 12 noon ET) and primetime broadcast coverage will be available in described video; all live streams on CBC Gem will be offered with closed captioning; and the CBC Sports YouTube channel will provide daily hosted segments with ASL translation throughout the Games. All of CBC’s digital experiences have been created with accessibility in mind and are frequently tested with real assistive technology users to ensure a positive experience for CBC’s diverse audiences.

Coverage of Team Canada kicks off Thursday, February 5 on CBC and CBC Gem with mixed doubles curling, as Canada takes on the home team, Italy, starting at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Then, at 3:10 p.m. ET (12:10 p.m. PT) defending Olympic champions, the Canadian women’s hockey team, faces off against Finland in their first game of the tournament.

Live commentary for key events will be available on CBC Gem in four Indigenous languages: Atikamekw, Cree, Innu and Inuktitut. Select sports will be called in Atikamekw by Alexandre Nequado, Thérèse Ottawa and Anthony Dubé; in Innu by Joyce Dominique and Alexandre Aster; and in Cree by Cole Bosum and Dorothy Stewart. David Ningeongan and Pujjuut Kusugak return to provide commentary in Inuktitut for women’s and men’s hockey.

CBC is bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to communities across Canada with free in-person events including: special screenings at more than 850 public libraries, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) Team Canada FanFest locations and Family Day weekend events. For a full list of events, please visit the CBC Olympics Experiences webpage.