Commercial free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4 has struck a deal with the organizers of the upcoming Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, to serve as the UK media rights partner for the event.
Channel 4 will provide widespread coverage of the Winter Paralympics, which will take place between March 6 and 15 across Northern Italy, specifically in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Verona, and Val di Fiemme.
Action from the multi-sport event will be shown across Channel 4’s main linear TV channel, the More4 channel, and streaming platforms, as well as through social channels, with production handled by the Whisper firm.
Output will be delivered on site in Italy and from Channel 4’s facility in Cardiff, Wales, meanwhile, supported by teams in Leeds and London for social and streaming.
Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4, has said: “We are super excited to bring the world-class sport of the Winter Paralympics from the slopes and rinks of Italy to the living rooms, laptops and smartphones of the British public.”
Next year’s event will be the eighth consecutive Paralympics that Channel 4 has aired, a run that began with the London 2012 Summer games, with the most recent edition covered being Paris 2024.
Up to 665 athletes from around 50 countries will compete for 79 medals across six winter Para 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 (Sweden) in 1976 and 20 years since Torino (Italy) 2006.
Andrea Varnier, chief executive of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, added: “Since London 2012, Channel 4 has continued to prove its ongoing commitment to Paralympic sport, and we are proud to have them as the official broadcaster of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games.
“The athletes' extraordinary performances and their stories of determination and resilience will make these Games an unforgettable event, touching British fans and inspiring new generations through the power of sport.”
The new rights deal adds to the Paralympics’ growing list of broadcast partners, with organizers unveiling Italian public service broadcaster Rai as the domestic home of the event last week.
Back in October, the exclusive live rights across almost all of Europe to the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games were snapped up by the EBU, meanwhile.
That deal specifically excluded Italy, where Rai has now stepped in to provide comprehensive coverage, as well as the UK.
In Australia, media heavyweight Nine Entertainment acquired exclusive broadcast rights to consolidate its coverage, which also includes the 2026 Winter Olympics.
