There has never been a better time to get into ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.

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For the first time in more than a decade, the NHL has taken a 19-day break to allow its players to compete for their nations at the Games, which means the best in the world will be taking to the ice at Milano-Cortina 2026.

The action-packed team sport sees two sides of five skaters battle on the ice as they aim to fire the puck into their opponents' net while keeping it out of their own.

The men's tournament promises to be a thrilling ride, with favourites Canada and the United States desperate to get one over on each other.

Canada's dominance of the women's tournament looks under threat as we head into the latter stages, with both the United States and Sweden proving untouchable so far.

Radio Times brings you our guide to ice hockey at the Winter Olympics 2026.

When is Winter Olympics 2026 ice hockey?

Ice hockey begins at the Winter Olympics 2026 on Thursday 5th February, with the start of the women's tournament, which concludes a fortnight later on Thursday 19th February.

The men's tournament begins on Wednesday 11th February and finishes on Sunday 22nd February.

Team GB ice hockey at the Winter Olympics 2026

Team GB do not have teams competing in either the men's or women's ice hockey tournament at Milan-Cortina 2026.

The 12 nations competing in the men's tournament are Italy, Canada, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, United States, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark.

In the women's tournament, the 10 nations competing are Italy, Canada, United States, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Japan, and France.

Czech Republic and Switzerland ice hockey players on the ice at Winter Olympics 2026.
Czech Republic v Switzerland. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

Winter Olympics 2026 ice hockey on TV

BBC and TNT Sports will each broadcast coverage of the Winter Olympics in 2026.

TNT Sports – and streaming platform discovery+ – will show every single minute of Winter Olympics action, with TNT Sports 2 showing 24/7 coverage and viewers able to pick between live streams of events.

The BBC also boasts TV rights throughout the Games, but is restricted to one live channel, plus one live stream online.

The corporation will broadcast over 450 hours of action with BBC One or BBC Two to broadcast the best of the live action each day, with that coverage plus an extra online feed to be made available on BBC iPlayer.

Winter Olympics 2026 ice hockey schedule

All UK time. Subject to change. Medal moments in italics.

Wednesday 11th February

  • M: Slovakia v Finland (4:40pm)
  • M: Sweden v Italy (9:10pm)

Thursday 12th February

  • M: Switzerland v France (12:10pm)
  • W: Finland v Canada (2:30pm)
  • M: Czechia v Canada (4:40pm)
  • M: Latvia v United States (9:10pm)
  • M: Germany v Denmark (9:10pm)

Friday 13th February

  • M: Finland v Sweden (12:10pm)
  • M: Italy v Slovakia (12:10pm)
  • M: France v Czechia (4:40pm)
  • W QF: TBD v TBD (4:40pm)
  • W QF: TBD v TBD (9:10pm)
  • M: Canada v Switzerland (9:10pm)

Saturday 14th February

  • M: Sweden v Slovakia (12:10pm)
  • M: Germany v Latvia (12:10pm)
  • M: Finland v Italy (4:40pm)
  • W QF: TBD v TBD (4:40pm)
  • W QF: TBD v TBD (9:10pm)
  • M: United States v Denmark (9:10pm)

Sunday 15th February

  • M: Switzerland v Czechia (12:10pm)
  • M: Canada v France (4:40pm)
  • M: Denmark v Latvia (7:10pm)
  • M: United States v Germany (9:10pm)

Monday 16th February

  • W SF: TBD v TBD (4:40pm)
  • W SF: TBD v TBD (9:10pm)

Tuesday 17th February

  • M PO: TBD v TBD (12:10pm)
  • M PO: TBD v TBD (12:10pm)
  • M PO: TBD v TBD (4:40pm)
  • M PO: TBD v TBD (9:10pm)

Wednesday 18th February

  • M QF: TBD v TBD (12:10pm)
  • M QF: TBD v TBD (4:40pm)
  • M QF: TBD v TBD (6:10pm)
  • M QF: TBD v TBD (9:10pm)

Thursday 19th February

  • W Bronze Medal Match: TBD v TBD (2:40pm)
  • W Gold Medal Match: TBD v TBD (7:10pm)

Friday 20th February

  • M SF: TBD v TBD (4:40pm)
  • M SF: TBD v TBD (9:10pm)

Saturday 21st February

  • M Bronze Medal Match: TBD v TBD (8:40pm)

Sunday 22nd February

  • M Gold Medal Match: TBD v TBD (2:10pm)
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Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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