Entertainment
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics: streaming guide
Table of Contents
The 2026 Winter Olympics are nearly here! This year marks the fourth time Italy has hosted the Winter Games (the last time was Turin in 2006). There will be plenty of fan-favorite sports and even an entirely new one joining the list — snow mountaineering. Here’s hoping it sparks another viral moment like the 2024 Summer Olympics’ newest sport.
Things officially kick off with the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium on Feb. 6 (though a few events will begin before that). If you don’t want to miss a minute of the action, we’ve compiled all the essential details you need to know to watch live, including which streaming service you’ll need and how to score a deal on it.
Let’s go, Team USA!
How to watch the 2026 Olympics with or without cable
No cable? No problem. You’ll be able to catch all the action with a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription.
A Peacock subscription gives you access to the full NBC broadcast of the Winter Olympics, including Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus a livestream of every single sport, competition, and medal ceremony. You’ll also get access to always-on Olympics channels, replays, highlights, documentaries, and nonstop commentary. Basically, Peacock is your one-stop shop for everything Olympics.
If you’re watching the Olympic Games in the U.S., keep in mind that Eastern time is six hours behind Milan and Cortina. Some broadcasts will be delayed until primetime, depending on the time zone. If you have cable, you’ll be able to watch live competitions throughout the day, as well as enhanced showcase events at night on NBC. USA Network and CNBC will also air Olympics coverage.
A Peacock Premium subscription costs $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without. There are also a few ways to save some money on a subscription, so keep scrolling for the latest Peacock streaming deals.
When and where are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy from Feb. 6 to 22.
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Here are some of the major dates to mark on your calendar:
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Feb. 6: Opening ceremony
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Feb. 7: First gold medal events
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Feb. 8: Gold medal, women’s Alpine skiing downhill
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Feb. 13: Gold medal, men’s figure skating
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Feb. 18: Gold medal, women’s Alpine skiing slalom
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Feb. 19: Gold medal, women’s figure skating. Gold medal game, women’s ice hockey. First gold medals in ski mountaineering.
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Feb. 22: Gold medal game, men’s ice hockey. Closing ceremony.
Which sports are in the Winter Olympics?
Nearly 3,000 athletes will be competing across 16 different sports in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Categories range from skiing and snowboarding to figure skating and hockey. Below is a full list — for more information on each individual sport, head over to the official Olympics website.
The best Peacock streaming deals
Best Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription
$109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best Peacock deal on any given day is the annual subscription plan. It costs $109.99 (with ads) or $169.99 (ad-free) up front, as opposed to the $131.88 or $203.88 you’ll pay if you choose a monthly plan. That ultimately ends up getting you about two months for free — a total savings of $21.89 on the Premium plan or $33.89 with the Premium Plus plan.
Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts
Credit: Peacock / Xfinity
Free for select Xfinity customers
If you’re an Xfinity customer, we highly recommend checking out the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock — you might be able to score a subscription for free.
Here’s a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity (head to Xfinity.com for more details):
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Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.
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NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.
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New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.
Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year
$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)
$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)
Students and young adults can take $5 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Just verify your student status via SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. After the promo year is up, you’ll be charged full price again unless you cancel.
Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month
$6.99 per month (save $4 per month)
$6.99 per month (save $4 per month)
$6.99/month (save $4 per month)
First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month. Just verify your professional status via SheerID to retrieve a unique promo code.
Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code. Rates are also subject to change year to year.
Best for Instacart users: free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers
Credit: Instacart / Peacock
Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year)
On top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders, an Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) now unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value). If you’re new to Instacart+, you’ll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. Just be sure to cancel before you’re charged the full amount.
Best for Walmart shoppers: free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members
Walmart+ members can now choose Peacock Premium (or Paramount+) as a free perk with their membership. The $98 subscription also gives you access to free shipping at Walmart.com (with no order minimums), fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart’s major shopping events. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, Walmart+ is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Plus, you’ll get many other perks.
Watch the Olympics in theaters
NBC is bringing the 2026 Winter Olympics to the big screen, so you and your friends can watch the world’s greatest athletes go for gold in select theaters. The Opening and Closing ceremonies, as well as NBC’s live daytime coverage, will be available to watch live in theaters across the country. Check out AMC Theatres or Fandango for advance tickets.
Entertainment
How to watch the 2026 Six Nations online for free
TL;DR: Stream the 2026 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Six Nations is a special competition. Want to see incredible speed and skill from supremely talented athletes? Check out the Six Nations. Want to experience intense passion from heated rivalries? The Six Nations offers that in abundance. Enjoy the sight of absolutely huge men smashing into each other at speed? Yep, the Six Nations is for you.
It’s a tournament like no other, and fans can follow all the action from the latest edition without spending anything. If you want to watch the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Six Nations?
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international men’s rugby union competition between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Each team plays every other team once, with home ground advantage alternating from one year to the next.
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The current champions are France. England and Wales have won the competition most often (39 titles).
When is the 2026 Six Nations?
The 2026 Six Nations Championship is the 132nd edition of the competition. This year’s competition will take place from Feb. 5 to March 14. Here’s the full schedule of games:
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France vs. Ireland — 8:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 5 (ITV)
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Italy vs. Scotland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7 (BBC)
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England vs. Wales — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7 (ITV)
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Ireland vs. Italy — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14 (ITV)
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Scotland vs. England — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14 (ITV)
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Wales vs. France — 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 15 (BBC)
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England vs. Ireland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 21 (ITV)
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Wales vs. Scotland — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 21 (BBC)
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France vs. Italy — 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22 (ITV)
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Ireland vs. Wales — 8:10 p.m. GMT on March 6 (ITV)
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Scotland vs. France — 2:10 p.m. GMT on March 7 (BBC)
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Italy vs. England — 4:40 p.m. GMT on March 7 (ITV)
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Ireland vs. Scotland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on March 14 (ITV)
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Wales vs. Italy — 4:40 p.m. GMT on March 14 (BBC)
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France vs. England — 8:10 p.m. GMT on March 14 (ITV)
Fans can watch every game from the 2026 Six Nations without spending anything.
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How to watch the 2026 Six Nations for free
The 2026 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
BBC iPlayer and ITVX are both geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This quick and easy action makes it look like you’re connecting from the UK, so you can stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Unblock BBC iPlayer and ITVX by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX
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Stream the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer or ITVX without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to all your favorite free streaming platforms, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for the Six Nations?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream sport for free, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Google reveals Pixel 10a with one subtle change
Google just randomly dropped a Pixel 10a reveal on YouTube, and there’s at least one noticeable change to the phone’s design.
The video itself is very brief, just showing the phone from a few different angles in a sort of light blue color. No new features or software of any kind are shown, though that’s to be expected with a budget version of last year’s Pixel 10. The one really noteworthy thing we can glean from this video is that the rear camera now appears to be totally flush with the body of the device, rather then protruding in any way.
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That’s a mild divergence from last year’s Pixel 9a. That phone ditched the signature Pixel horizontal camera bar, but the lens itself still stuck out a bit when viewed from the side. Aside from that, again, we really can’t divine anything from this video about the phone itself. Its specs and features will have to wait until Google feels like sharing more.
An announcement will probably be soon, given that the pre-order date is set for Feb. 18.
Entertainment
Just in time for V-Day — the best dating apps for serious relationships
Gone are the days when people balk at you if you say you met your partner online. Dating apps have irrevocably changed the way we date — much as social media platforms have changed how we interact with each other. With so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in, especially if you’re looking for that special someone.
According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you’re a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you’re more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.
The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that’s you, you’re certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok.
The discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. In 2025, singles told Mashable they’d rather meet a potential partner in person, but they’re begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent quarters, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. A Kinsey scientist even recently told Mashable where daters are going wrong; he said to use dating apps as a tool, not to let them run the show — and stop self-optimizing, already.
Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it’s undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they’re the way to do it. If you’re, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app does have its uses.
What is the #1 best dating app?
Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it’s difficult to quantify which ones are the “best.” Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups.
That being said, if you’re looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you’re looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one’s ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more “serious” connections.
Depending on the type of relationship you’re seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you’re in a space meant just for you.
Which dating site is best for serious relationships?
Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won’t determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We’ve also included some “niche” options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.
Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:
How to watch the 2026 Six Nations online for free
Google reveals Pixel 10a with one subtle change
