The 2026 Winter Olympics, dubbed the Milan Cortina Games, will officially begin with the Opening Ceremony, which is set for Friday, February 6. But, viewers who want to watch the Olympic games before then will actually able to catch Olympic action starting on Wednesday, February 4.
So, why do some events in the 2026 Winter Olympics are begin before the Opening Ceremony? It’s because with the length of these particular winter events, there simply isn’t enough time between the opening and closing ceremonies to finish each event, so they have to start early. Some sports take a full 16 days or longer to play full tournaments, while others require extra time for practice runs in new conditions. So, that’s why some games start ahead of the Opening Ceremony.
The Winter Olympics takes place every four years, and that’s the same case for the Summer Olympics. This year, the 2026 Winter Olympics is being hosted in Milan, Italy, and will air on NBC. Athletes have already been in the Olympic village, getting ready for their events and meeting others from around the world.
2026 Winter Olympics: Olympics Start on Wednesday, February 4
So, which events take place on Wednesday, February 4, and Thursday, February 6? The events include curling, ice hockey, luge, ski jumping, snowboarding and figure skating.
Alpine skiing and luge will begin training on Wednesday to ensure that athletes have time to adjust to the track and new conditions. Curling will also start on Wednesday, with mixed doubles round robin games. Ski jumping, snowboarding, the ice hockey tournament and figure skating will also start before the Opening Ceremony, with early competitions.
So, alpine skiing, curling and luge start on Wednesday, February 4, and continue through the Opening Ceremony and through the game. Ski jumping and ice hockey start on Thursday, February 5, and also continue through the games. Finally, figure skating starts at 3:55 a.m. ET on Friday, February 6, before the Opening Ceremony.
It makes sense that networks would want the Opening Ceremony to start on Friday, for multiple viewership, but it’s interesting that the games don’t just expand the events. We only get the Winter Olympics every two years, so why not make it a three-week event?
Fun Olympics Facts and Research
The Olympics have a long history. “The first-ever Olympics were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Since then, the Olympic Games are held every four years,” the games’ official website states.
“The maiden edition saw 241 athletes from 14 nations take part in nine sports – athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling,” they add. “Of course, the Olympics have since expanded – both in terms of participants and the number of sports played.”
So, what does the Olympic flame symbolize that you’ll see during the Opening Ceremony?
“The Olympic flame is one of the striking images before the start of any Olympic Games, with the Olympic Torch Relay – the flame travels the country in which the Games are being held – starting a few months before the Games kickoff,” the Olympics’ official website states. “For Paris 2024, the Olympic Torch Relay arrived in the city on July 14 and ended with the Opening Ceremony end on July 26.
2026 Winter Olympics: They Actually Start Before the Opening Ceremony