Rai to Broadcast Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy
Italian national broadcaster Rai has secured domestic broadcast rights for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, ensuring comprehensive coverage for Italian audiences. The agreement fills a gap left by a previous deal that did not include Italy,adding the host nation to the extensive network of European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members committed to showcasing the event.
This acquisition is significant as it guarantees widespread, free-to-air access to the Paralympics for Italian viewers, building on the EBU’s long-standing commitment to the Games. The EBU has consistently provided coverage across Europe since the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics, and this latest deal expands that reach. The Milan Cortina 2026 Games are especially well-positioned for European audiences due to favorable time zones.
Beyond Italy, 23 other EBU member countries - Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, and Ukraine – have already pledged live coverage.
Rai’s acquisition complements a broader agreement between the EBU and Warner bros. Revelation (WBD) to broadcast all Olympic Games – both Winter and Summer – through 2032, secured in early 2023. The UK remains an exception, with commercial broadcaster Channel 4 holding the rights for the paralympics within that territory.
