Channel 4 has secured UK broadcast rights to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, marking its eighth consecutive Paralympics since London 2012.
The UK broadcaster will offer extensive free-to-air and streaming coverage across its linear channels and on-demand platforms, with production handled by Whisper. Output will be delivered on site in Italy and from Channel 4’s fully accessible facility in Cardiff, supported by teams in Leeds and London for social and streaming.
Andrea Varnier, CEO of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, said Channel 4’s commitment since London 2012 made it a natural partner, promising UK viewers “a unique experience” from 6–15 March 2026 as athletes’ “determination and resilience” are showcased from the Dolomites.
Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4, said the broadcaster was “super excited” to bring Winter Paralympics action “from the slopes and rinks of Italy to the living rooms, lap-tops and smart phones of the British public,” highlighting Whisper Cymru’s role in producing coverage.
Milano Cortina 2026 will see up to 665 athletes from around 50 countries compete for 79 medals across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling. The event will also mark 50 years since the first Paralympic Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik in 1976 and 20 years since Torino 2006, underlining its symbolic importance for the Paralympic movement.
Channel 4 is positioning the deal as a continuation of its Paralympic strategy, which has included barrier-breaking coverage such as the 100% disabled presenting team at Beijing 2022 and marketing campaigns like “Meet the Superhumans” and “We’re the Superhumans”. The broadcaster cites 2024 research showing 94% of viewers felt its Paris 2024 Paralympic coverage positively influenced perceptions of disabled people.
