Stanley Tucci is trading Hollywood sets for Olympic backdrops. The Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor will join NBC Sports primetime coverage of the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games in February 2026. Bringing his Italian roots and storytelling flair to one of sports’ biggest stages.
Tucci, also a New York Times best-selling author, will be on-site in northern Italy throughout the Games. His role will focus on showcasing the region’s cuisine, culture, and lifestyle. Featuring a travelogue-style segment airing in primetime on NBC and Peacock. The network hopes his approach will add depth and character to the broadcast, broadening its appeal beyond traditional sports fans.
“It’s been my passion to learn about the people of Italy by traversing the country and savoring its food. But this time, I’ll have a guest with me—the world,” Tucci said. “I’m excited to return to northern Italy as the Olympic Games brings the world to its doorstep. What foods will the world fall in love with? What favorites will be uncovered? How will Italy transform with the world as its guest? I’m excited to share it all with the American primetime audience in February.”
NBC Olympics Executive Producer Molly Solomon said Tucci’s name quickly came up during planning. “America has an affinity for all things Italian, and with his string of hit shows and best sellers, Stanley’s now the it guy on Italian culture in our country,” Solomon said. “His mix of cool curiosity and masterful storytelling makes him the perfect guide to dish on northern Italy’s culinary and cultural treasures. We can’t wait for him to make America hungry in primetime.”
Tucci has built a reputation for exploring Italian traditions on screen. His CNN series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy earned him two Emmy Awards, and his current National Geographic program Tucci in Italy highlights 10 regions across the country. His family traces its roots to Marzi, a town in Calabria in southern Italy, making this assignment both personal and professional.
While Tucci’s television work has leaned toward food and culture, his acting resume remains expansive. He has appeared in The Hunger Games series, The Devil Wears Prada, Spotlight, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Lovely Bones, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His career includes six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and multiple nominations across film, stage, and audio.
The Milan Cortina Games will run February 6-22, 2026, marking the fourth Olympics hosted by Italy and the first Winter Games in the Central European Time Zone since Turin 2006. NBCUniversal, which holds U.S. media rights through 2036, will carry coverage across NBC and Peacock.
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