With the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games just around the corner, excitement is starting to build towards what promises to be the most-viewed Paralympic Winter Games ever. The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games reached a record cumulative TV audience of around 2.367 billion people, so it is realistic to expect Milano Cortina 2026 to match or exceed that figure as coverage hours, digital platforms, and national broadcasters like TVNZ here in New Zealand continue to expand.
Viewing Figures Snapshot
- PyeongChang 2018: 2.02 billion cumulative viewers worldwide across more than 100 territories, plus 251.5 million reached via IPC digital channels.
- Beijing 2022: Record cumulative TV audience of about 2.367 billion; more than 300 hours of live sport produced; International Paralympic Committee (IPC) social channels topped one billion video views in 2022.
- Historic trend: TV and digital audiences have grown strongly from Sochi 2014 to PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, driven by more broadcast hours, rising interest in Para sport, and rapid growth in China.
- Most watched winter Paralympic sports: Para alpine skiing leads; Para cross country skiing, Para biathlon, Para snowboard, Wheelchair curling, and Para ice hockey also attract hundreds of millions of viewers.
- Milano Cortina 2026 expectations: More rights holders, more live hours, and stronger streaming are likely to push global viewing at or above Beijing 2022, with free-to-air coverage in markets such as New Zealand and the UK positioning the Games for strong local audiences.
Historic viewing trends for the Paralympic Winter Games
Global audiences for the Paralympic Winter Games have grown steadily over the past decade as broadcasters invest in more live coverage and fans shift to digital platforms. PyeongChang 2018 marked a step change in reach that Beijing 2022 then exceeded, setting a new benchmark for winter Para sport.
- At Beijing 2022, the Paralympic Winter Games reached 2.367 billion viewers worldwide, making them the most-watched Paralympic Winter Games of all time.
- Coverage from Beijing was broadcast across more than 100 territories, reflecting how widely the Games had penetrated mainstream schedules.
- In addition to TV, around 251.5 million people were reached through IPC’s digital media channels, almost four times higher than Sochi 2014 and close to three times higher than the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
- Viewing figures across a number of key markets increased significantly. In the US, the Games reached nearly 12 million viewers across NBC’s network, helped by the addition of primetime scheduling for the first time.
- In the UK, Channel 4 continues to lead the way in terms of coverage of the Paralympic Winter Games, making history as the first broadcaster with 100 per cent of its presenting team with a disability.
This rising interest did not happen in isolation; it was supported by major increases in broadcast volume. Channel 4 in Great Britain showed over 80 hours of live coverage of Beijing 2022 (up from 63 hours for PyeongChang) and NBC Universal in the US presented over 120 hours of TV coverage with streaming on Peacock for the first time, revealing the shift toward live rather than highlights-only programming.
Beijing 2022: new records in TV and digital reach
Beijing 2022 built on this foundation and delivered the largest audience yet for a Paralympic Winter Games. The IPC confirmed that Beijing 2022 achieved a record cumulative global TV audience of 2.367 billion people, surpassing the already impressive figures from PyeongChang 2018.
- More than 300 hours of live Paralympic sport were produced for Beijing 2022, meaning fans could follow Para athletes across multiple sports and time zones in real time.
- Nielsen Sport data cited by the IPC shows that 32 per cent of the global population is now interested in the Paralympics, an all-time high that reflects growing awareness of Para sport and disability representation.
- The IPC’s social and digital platforms also broke new ground in 2022, topping one billion video views in a single year and growing total followers by 53 per cent to more than six million.
China played a central role in these increases. Even before Beijing became the host city, TV audiences in China for PyeongChang 2018 grew by 18 per cent compared with Sochi 2014, reflecting anticipation for the home Games in 2022. As host, China led the medal table at Beijing 2022 while also providing one of the world’s largest TV and digital markets, which helped push cumulative viewing figures to that 2.367 billion mark despite COVID-19-related venue restrictions.
The breakdown by sport for Beijing 2022 with info supplied by the IPC, see below
- Para alpine skiing 1.3 billion cumulative audience
- Para biathlon 676 million
- Para cross-country 1.0 billion
- Para ice hockey 467 million
- Para snowboard 462 million
- Wheelchair curling 487 million
- Opening Ceremony 699 million
- Closing Ceremony 97 million
Most watched Paralympic Winter Games sports
In recent Games, Para alpine skiing has consistently been the most-watched sport among global TV audiences. Specific data from Beijing 2022 as supplied by the IPC see below:
- Para alpine skiing 1.3 billion cumulative audience
- Para biathlon 676 million
- Para cross-country 1.0 billion
- Para ice hockey 467 million
- Para snowboard 462 million
- Wheelchair curling 487 million
- Opening Ceremony 699 million
- Closing Ceremony 97 million
These figures underline how strongly snow sports resonate with winter audiences, helped by the fact China successfully defended their Paralympic title at Beijing 2022. Para ice hockey remains hugely popular in North America and parts of Europe and China’s bronze medal in Para ice hockey as host nation will also help to ensure a growth in popularity as we head towards 2026.
This spread of popular sports contributes to the cumulative global audience. Viewers may tune in for Para alpine skiing but then stay to watch wheelchair curling or Para snowboard as schedules become more integrated across broadcasters and streaming services.
Looking ahead to Milano Cortina 2026
Forecasting exact viewer numbers for Milano Cortina 2026 is not yet possible; however, existing trends suggest that the next Paralympic Winter Games are likely to at least match, and quite possibly exceed, Beijing 2022’s 2.367 billion cumulative audience. Several factors support this expectation.
- Rights holders continue to expand live and on demand coverage of the Paralympic Games; for example, Channel 4 in the United Kingdom has already secured broadcast rights for Milano Cortina 2026, building on innovative, disability led coverage that has proved popular with viewers and has influenced attitudes toward disabled people.
- The broader Olympic and Paralympic ecosystem is trending toward more media rights partners and more live hours, which creates better visibility and discovery opportunities for winter Para sports.
- Digital consumption is growing faster than traditional TV, with streaming, highlights, and social video all offering new touchpoints for fans who may not watch entire live sessions but still engage with key moments and athletes.
From a content and fan experience perspective, Milano Cortina 2026 also benefits from the momentum created by Beijing 2022’s record interest levels and expanded IPC digital footprint. As more national Paralympic committees and broadcasters invest in storytelling and behind the scenes content, Milano Cortina 2026 is likely to see higher engagement across global and local platforms, including in markets where winter sport is still emerging.
Watching the Paralympic Winter Games in New Zealand
For New Zealand audiences, access to the Paralympic Winter Games has improved dramatically over recent cycles, reducing barriers for fans who want to follow Kiwi Para athletes and international stars. During Beijing 2022, TVNZ’s DUKE channel provided the most extensive Paralympic Winter Games coverage New Zealand had seen, with every event broadcast and a specific commitment to showcase every New Zealand performance. We can expect around 120 hours of coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 on TVNZ Duke, along with additional livestreamed content on TVNZ+, making these the most-covered Paralympic Winter Games here in New Zealand.
- Coverage from Beijing 2022 in New Zealand spanned the full range of events, from Para alpine skiing and Para snowboard to wheelchair curling and Para ice hockey.
- With Beijing sitting five hours behind New Zealand time, live and delayed coverage typically ran from around 10am until roughly 2am, supplemented by recap segments on TVNZ Breakfast at 6am, 7am, and 8am the following morning.
This level of access is expected to continue into Milano Cortina 2026, particularly as free-to-air coverage has proved crucial in growing audiences for Para sport in New Zealand and inspiring future Paralympians. Extensive live coverage, strong Kiwi athlete stories, and integrated digital highlights create a powerful platform to engage disabled people who may be considering sport participation, as well as non-disabled viewers who want to support the NZ Paralympic Team.
In addition to TVNZ coverage, we will also have our own team on the ground at Milano Cortina 2026 and our social platforms will be the best place to access behind-the-scenes content, athlete interviews, and key highlights, both on and off the slopes.
Frequently asked questions
How many people watched the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games?
Beijing 2022 reached a record cumulative global TV audience of about 2.367 billion people, the highest figure ever reported for a Paralympic Winter Games. More than 300 hours of live sport were produced and distributed worldwide by rights holding broadcasters.
How did Beijing 2022 compare with PyeongChang 2018?
PyeongChang 2018 reached around 2.02 billion viewers across more than 100 territories, plus an additional 251.5 million via IPC digital channels. Beijing 2022 exceeded that total with its 2.367 billion cumulative audience and also generated record digital engagement, including more than one billion views on IPC social channels in 2022.
Will Milano Cortina 2026 set a new viewing record?
Official viewing data for Milano Cortina 2026 will only be available after the Games; however, trends suggest that total viewing will at least match, and could exceed, Beijing 2022’s 2.367 billion cumulative audience. Expanded broadcast hours, multi-platform streaming, and strong free-to-air coverage in key markets give Milano Cortina 2026 the foundations to become the most-watched Paralympic Winter Games so far.
