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Milan Cortina Olympics Attract 23.5 Million Viewers Across NBCUniversal
Best Winter Games Coverage Since 2014, Boosting Peacock and Other Platforms
Published on Feb. 24, 2026
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NBCUniversal's coverage of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics attracted 23.5 million viewers, the best Winter Games performance in the U.S. since 2014. The 17-day event saw increased viewership across NBC, Peacock, NBCUniversal's digital platforms, and Versant's USA Network and CNBC. The Milan Cortina Olympics also helped drive Peacock's best month ever, with four of the platform's top 10 usage days and seven of its top 10 largest reach days occurring during the Games.
Why it matters
The strong viewership numbers for the Milan Cortina Olympics highlight the continued popularity of the Winter Games in the U.S. market, even as overall TV viewership has declined in recent years. The performance also demonstrates the value of NBCUniversal's investment in the Olympics and the growth of its streaming platform, Peacock, which has become an increasingly important part of the company's Olympics coverage.
The details
NBCUniversal's coverage of the Milan Cortina Olympics spanned 3,200 hours and 116 events, with the company reporting that all 15 competition days averaged over 20 million viewers. The 'Milan Prime' afternoon window (2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET) and the U.S. primetime (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.) time periods were particularly strong, averaging 3.3 million viewers daily across Peacock and NBCU digital platforms. The USA women's hockey team's victory over Canada was the most-watched women's hockey game ever, with 5.3 million viewers on USA Network and Peacock.
- The Milan Cortina Olympics took place from February 7 to February 21, 2026.
- NBCUniversal's coverage of the Winter Games began on February 1, 2026 with the debut of Sunday Night Basketball.
The players
NBCUniversal
A media and entertainment company that owns and operates the NBC television network, several cable television channels, and various digital platforms.
Peacock
NBCUniversal's streaming platform that offers a variety of live and on-demand content, including coverage of the Olympic Games.
Versant
A media company that owns and operates the USA Network and CNBC cable channels, which were part of NBCUniversal's coverage of the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Molly Solomon
The executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Production.
Gary Zenkel
The president of NBC Olympics.
What they’re saying
“These Olympics captured everyone's imagination in ways no one could have predicted.”
— Molly Solomon, Executive Producer and President of NBC Olympics Production
“The Milan Cortina Olympics proved once again that the American audience will gather in large numbers over 17 days to experience this unmatched global competition.”
— Gary Zenkel, President of NBC Olympics
What’s next
NBCUniversal is already looking ahead to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which it will also serve as the U.S. media home for.
The takeaway
The strong viewership numbers for the Milan Cortina Olympics demonstrate the continued appeal of the Winter Games in the United States, even as overall TV viewership has declined in recent years. The performance also highlights the growing importance of streaming platforms like Peacock in delivering Olympic coverage to modern audiences.
