Canada Watches 10 Million as Paralympics Reach New High — Paralympics
Milano Cortina 2026 pushed the paralympics deeper into Canadian attention, with 10 million people watching CBC/Radio-Canada coverage and six in 10 Canadians engaging through broadcast, streaming, social media or media coverage. The Canadian Paralympic Committee said the Games set a record for Canadian broadcast and digital engagement. It also said the numbers point to a wider shift in how Canadians value Para sport.
Karen O'Neill in Ottawa
Karen O'Neill tied the audience growth to a larger change in public expectations. “It is so exciting for Paralympic sport to be reaching more Canadians than ever before, and the growth seen at Milano Cortina 2026 reflects a broader shift in how Canadians engage with and value Paralympic sport – including higher expectations for a more accessible and inclusive country,” she said in Ottawa on May 26, 2026.
She added that the momentum should not stop with viewership. “As we build towards our vision of an inclusive world through Paralympic sport, this represents an opportunity for all those who support or invest in Para sport to harness this momentum and make true long-term impacts.”
National audience numbers
The study found four in 10 Canadians now identify as fans, while more than half said the Games increased their interest in the paralympics. Over 70 per cent said fandom is continuing to rise, and one in four Canadians tuned into broadcast coverage of the Games.
Streaming growth was sharper still. Time spent on Paralympic content rose by more than 500 per cent compared with Beijing 2022, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee said its digital and social platforms generated nearly 50 million impressions, 13 million video views and more than 1.5 million engagements.
Michelle Stilwell on inclusion
Michelle Stilwell said the numbers go beyond audience size. “Para sport has become a relevant and trusted platform for connection, and the data clearly shows that those who engage more deeply with the Paralympic Games demonstrate stronger inclusive behaviours and more positive attitudes,” she said.
That line matched the rest of the research. Seven in 10 Canadians said the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games positively influenced their attitudes toward people with disabilities, more than 30 per cent said the Games increased their motivation to participate in sport or physical activity, and three in 10 Canadians with a disability said the same. Nine in 10 Canadians also said the country should be more accessible.
The viewing spike gives the Canadian Paralympic Committee a larger audience to work with after Milano Cortina 2026. For readers, the practical takeaway is that Para sport is no longer reaching only a narrow sports audience; the latest study says it is now tied to broader support for accessibility, inclusion and participation.
