NBC: Milan Cortina Olympics Ratings Up 96% Over Beijing

The network averaged 23.5 million viewers, the most watched Winter Olympics since Sochi in 2014.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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NBC Sports' coverage of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics saw a 96% ratings improvement over the 2022 Beijing Games, averaging 23.5 million viewers to become the most watched Winter Olympics since Sochi in 2014. Highlight moments included the opening and closing ceremonies, Alysa Liu's gold medal in women's figure skating, and gold medals for both the women's and men's ice hockey teams.

Why it matters

The strong viewership numbers demonstrate the continued popularity of the Olympics in the United States, despite concerns about declining interest in recent years. The Milan Cortina Games were part of a busy sports month for NBC, which also included the Super Bowl LX and the most-watched NBA All-Star Game since 2011.

The details

NBC reported that all 15 days when competition took place saw at least 20 million viewers per day. Peacock and NBCU digital platforms averaged 3.3 million viewers daily. According to Nielsen, Milwaukee led all markets with a 13.7 rating and a 49 share, followed by Minneapolis, Fort Myers, Florida, Pittsburgh, and Dayton, Ohio.

  • The Milan Cortina Olympics took place in February 2026.

The players

Gary Zenkel

NBC Olympics president.

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What they’re saying

“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, NBC Olympics president

The takeaway

The strong ratings for the Milan Cortina Olympics demonstrate the continued popularity of the Winter Games in the United States, despite concerns about declining interest in recent years. The success of NBC's coverage, which included record-breaking viewership for the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game, highlights the network's ability to drive engagement around major sporting events.