Curling is gaining traction in the United States, more than you might expect. Each year, around 100,000 Americans give it a shot. The sport is particularly on the rise in places like Montana. Following John Shuster’s gold medal win in men’s curling at the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018, the U.S. plans to send teams across all three categories—men’s, women’s, and mixed—to Italy for the 2026 Games.
How is it played?
The rules for Olympic curling are fairly straightforward. Each match has 10 segments known as “ends,” somewhat akin to innings in baseball. During each end, teams throw eight stones, trying to land them in the center of a circular target called the “house.”
The innermost circle of the house is referred to as the “button.” Points are awarded to the team whose stone is closest to it, and any stones that sit closer to the button than the opponent’s closest stone also earn points.
For instance, imagine a scenario where the yellow team scores two points because their stones are nearer to the center than the red team’s closest stones.
Teams are allowed to knock each other’s stones around as they see fit. Only one team can score points during each end, and the total score is tallied after all 10 ends are completed.
What’s with the shouting?
You might notice that when the curler releases the stone, they often twist or “curl” it to guide it into the house while dodging other stones. While doing this, the player usually shouts commands to their teammates, with phrases like “Hurry!” or simply “Yes!” and “No!”
This yelling is to prompt a teammate—the sweeper—to brush the ice in front of the stone, generating friction that can help it travel further. The most vigorous sweeping typically occurs when the stone is moving slowly or when the sweeper is attempting to nudge it just a bit closer to the button.
In mixed doubles curling, which features one man and one woman per team, there are fewer ends and stones. Specifically, it has eight ends and uses five stones per end.
How to watch
The United States is set to compete in all divisions in 2026. Sweden will defend its men’s gold, while Great Britain will do the same for the women’s event, with Italy as the reigning mixed champions.
Team USA may be viewed as the underdog—struggling to break into the top five in international rankings across the board. The mixed doubles matches will take place prior to the official opening ceremony of the Olympics, with the first match scheduled for February 4th at 1:05 PM ET on NBC. The U.S. team’s first game will commence the following day at 4:05 AM ET against Norway.
The men’s division kicks off on February 11th at 1:05 PM ET, as Team USA faces the Czech Republic. The women’s tournament starts the next day, February 12th, with the U.S. competing against South Korea at 3:05 AM ET.
Scotland holds the top ranking in men’s and mixed doubles but will compete under the British flag during the Olympics. This team is likely a frontrunner in these categories. Canada, Switzerland, and Sweden are among the traditional medalists for men’s curling, while South Korea, China, and Japan are contenders for the women’s event.
Mixed doubles was introduced as an Olympic discipline in 2018, and only two matches have been held since then, with Norway the only nation to secure both medals.
