The use of drones to cover the Winter Olympics is not a new development. But a new generation of technology is allowing a fresh viewing experience at the 2026 Games, with access to angles of the competition that previously did not exist. 

The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) is deploying a fleet of high-tech devices in Italy this year as first-person-view (FPV) drones have been incorporated into live coverage to offer unique angles to viewers watching these Games from home.

“We look at this as an evolution of the sport. The expectation today is to have this kind of experience when you consume a sports event, even more so for the Olympic Games,” International Olympic Committee sports director Pierre Ducrey told Reuters. “We strive to offer the best viewing experience whether in the stadium or outside.”

In the first days of coverage of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, the dynamic camera angles and telltale whine of the machinery have been present in Alpine skiing, luge and speed skating event coverage. 

FPV drones are a game changer for the viewing experience, especially in speed sports. These drones can cover vast distances and safely provide follow-cam footage at up to 75 miles per hour while maintaining broadcast quality, rather than relying on switching between constant static shots from different angles. They also provide aerial coverage that gives observers a wider view of the landscape as athletes move at breathtaking speeds.

Drones burst onto the Winter Olympics scene in the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, when 1,218 drones set a then-record for the largest simultaneous drone light show. They were also featured heavily in the coverage of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, both in competition as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and medal ceremonies.

Time will tell where advances in drone technology over the next four years take us in the French Alps in 2030.