When do the Olympics start? Opening ceremony date, time, schedule for 2024 Summer Games

The 2024 Olympics in Paris are finally upon us, and thousands of athlete federations are flocking to the French capital ahead of the start of competition. Of course, the start of the Games is always marked by an opening ceremony, and this year's will be like none before.

The Seine will host this year's opening ceremony with boats for each national delegation. Viewers will have live looks onto these boats to see the athletes close up through cameras on the vessels as they embark on a six-kilometer route. 

There is no admission fee for most of the route for spectators, which is also a first. There will also be several screens throughout the city for everyone to enjoy to atmosphere. The city is bound to be as crowded as ever before for the ceremony, and viewers around the world will be able to tune in, as well. 

Here's everything to know about when the Olympics start including details about the opening ceremony date, time, and schedule. 

MORE: Will the Seine River be ready for the 2024 Olympics?

When do the Olympics start in 2024?

• Start date: Friday, July 26
• Opening ceremony time: 1:30 p.m. ET

The 2024 Olympic Games will start on Friday, July 26, with the opening ceremony. That begins at 1:30 p.m. ET, or 7:30 p.m. local time in Paris. Note that some soccer, rugby, archery, and handball competitions will occur on the Wednesday and Thursday before the ceremony officially opens the Games.

How to watch the opening ceremony in USA

• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

NBC will carry live coverage of the opening ceremony and all other Olympic events through their family of networks. NBC will host the opening ceremonies starting at 1 p.m. ET on July 26, and the event will be live streamed simultaneously on Peacock.

Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning will host NBC's coverage of the opening ceremonies. For those who would rather wait to watch in primetime, a re-cast will air at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

How long is the Olympics opening ceremony?

There isn't a set length for the ceremony, but recent ceremonies have been close to four hours in duration. The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET and run until around 5:30 p.m. ET. In Paris, it will run from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. local time.

Where are the 2024 Olympics?

The 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris, France. Paris was awarded the bid for the Olympics in 2017, and the Games are rumored to be costing the city about $8.2 billion. 

Paris is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, meaning many events that happen in the morning in France may have to be broadcast on tape delay for prime-time audiences in the United States and Canada. 

There are 35 Olympic venues spread across France. Here is a complete list along with the sports that will take place there.

Olympics schedule 2024

Here's a full breakdown of every sport and the dates on which events for that sport will take place. There will be live and tape-delayed coverage of these events on the NBC family of networks.