NBCUniversal is once again turning movie theaters into Olympic viewing destinations, announcing plans to significantly expand live daytime coverage of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics across AMC Theatres locations nationwide.
The company revealed that more than 150 AMC theaters will offer ticketed access to select live daytime Olympic broadcasts from NBC between February 6-22. The initiative builds on a similar effort during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. About 110 AMC locations participated then. That effort helped introduce a communal viewing option beyond traditional home screens.
Beginning February 6, the same day as the Opening Ceremony, fans can gather inside participating AMC theaters. They will watch live Olympic competition unfold in real time from northern Italy.
NBCUniversal said the programming is expected to feature marquee Winter Games events, including figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, hockey and speed skating, presented with a cinematic experience designed to heighten the drama and emotion of the Games.
The expanded rollout reflects NBCUniversal’s continued push to extend Olympic coverage beyond linear television and streaming, while also giving AMC another opportunity to position its theaters as live event venues. The companies hope the large-screen setting and shared atmosphere will appeal to both casual viewers and devoted Olympic fans looking for a different way to experience the Games.
Tickets for the live Olympic screenings will be available starting January 23 through theater box offices and Fandango.
NBCUniversal’s return to theaters follows positive results from its Paris Olympics experiment, which demonstrated demand for live sports content in a theatrical environment. The Milan Cortina expansion represents a notable increase in scale, with more than 40 additional locations added compared to the 2024 effort.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature events staged across multiple regions in northern Italy, with Milan and Cortina serving as primary hosts. It will mark the second time Cortina has hosted the Winter Games, following the 1956 Olympics, and the fourth time Italy has hosted an Olympic Games overall. The most recent Winter Olympics held in Italy took place in Turin in 2006.
NBC and Peacock will serve as NBCUniversal’s primary platforms for comprehensive coverage of the Milan Cortina Games, which are scheduled for February 6-22, 2026. The Paralympic Winter Games will follow from March 6-15, 2026.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
