Commonwealth Games 2026: Everything You Need To Know
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3 weeks ago
We are back on home shores for the 23rd edition of the international multi-sport event
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially here, returning to Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026. After a back and forth with the Australian state of Victoria in 2023, the games have been relocated to Scotland’s largest city. Having also played host in 2014, these games are pegged to be the most inclusive, eco-friendly games to date – though much of that is down to money saving tactics. We’ve got all the details below.
What Is The Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport competition which takes place every four years, bringing together athletes from across the Commonwealth of Nations. The British Commonwealth is an international association of 56 countries, most of which are former territories of the British Empire. Toyed with as early as 1884, the Commonwealth, as we know it today, really came to be post-World War Two. As Queen Elizabeth II decreed in her 1953 Christmas Day broadcast, the Commonwealth would be ‘an entirely new conception – built on the highest qualities of the Spirit of Man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace’.
The Commonwealth Games, too, had been toyed with as early as 1891, though the first proper games, then known as the Inter-Empire Championship, did not take place until 1911. Then it was part of a celebration of the coronation of King George V, but by 1930 it had grown into its own thing. Held almost every four years across the century since (excepting a break for WWII), it has evolved into a beloved event celebrating the sporting achievements of dozens of nations across the globe.
The most recent Commonwealth Games were hosted in Birmingham in 2022, and the most recent instalment held outside the UK was Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018. Before that, it was Delhi, India in 2010.
Clyde Arc, Glasgow
Glasgow 2026
Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, is hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Australian state of Victoria had to pull out due to rising costs. The 11-day 2026 Games begin today (23 July 2026), exactly 12 years after the city last played host. Having hosted in 2014, Glasgow is now the third city (after Auckland and Edinburgh) to have hosted the Games twice.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will make use of existing venues and stadiums during its run; the 2014 Games wracked up a cost of over £540 million. Four venues will be utilised: the Emirates Arena, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, the Scottish Events Campus and Scotstoun stadium. Unlike previous years, a new athletes’ village will not be constructed. Instead, Glasgow will put competitors and officials up in existing accommodation across the city.
Who Competes?
Competing nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, meaning most are former colonies of the British Empire. However since 1949 any nation has been welcome to join the Commonwealth regardless of its connection to the British Crown. The first country to join the Commonwealth without any links to the UK was Mozambique in 1995, having gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
As of 2026, are 56 Commonwealth countries, spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. The Commonwealth Games Federation, however, recognises 72 participants, with many dependent territories and associated states taking the opportunity to compete alone. For example, Britain’s four nations are united for events like the Olympics, but compete separately as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games, with the Channel Islands separate again, competing as Jersey and Guernsey (with the Bailiwick of Guernsey accepting athletes from Alderney, Sark and Herm, too).
At the 2026 Commonwealth Games, around 3,000 athletes from up to 72 countries are expected to take part. Two Commonwealth members, Gabon and Togo, will compete for the very first time.
Since the first Games in 1930, only six nations have competed in every edition: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales.
The Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony will be held at the Hydro on 23 July 2026.
What Sports Are Included?
Just 10 sports make up the 2026 stripped-back programme, with fully integrated para-competitions across six of them. While sports like hockey, diving and badminton have missed out (in fact, all racket sports will miss out), the sports we can expect to see at the 2026 Commonwealth Games are:
- Athletics and para-athletics – track and field only
- Swimming and para-swimming
- Track cycling and para-track cycling
- Boxing
- Artistic gymnastics
- Netball
- Weightlifting and para-powerlifting
- Judo
- Bowls and para-bowls
- 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball
At Glasgow 2014, 17 sports were contested. Interestingly, hockey has been dropped from the line-up, despite a new national hockey centre constructed for the 2014 Games costing ÂŁ5 million. Likewise, street-based events like the triathlon and marathon have been removed from the programme; in 2014, these were free for spectators to attend.
How To Get Tickets
Fancy hopping to Glasgow last minute? You’re in luck: a selection of tickets for the 2026 Commonwealth Games are still available. They can be purchased at glasgow2026.com
How To Watch The Commonwealth Games 2026: TV Guide
Glasgow 2026 will also be aired on TV. Though we are used to watching on the BBC, however, 2026 marks a break in tradition: all coverage of the Commonwealth Games will air on TNT Sports after the British public service broadcaster was outbid for the first time in 72 years.
From the opening ceremony on Thursday 23 July until the end of the Games on Sunday 2 August, more than 600 hours of content from Glasgow 2026 are expected to be broadcast live on TNT Sport from 8.30am to 10.30pm everyday of the games.
Of course, accessing TNT sports is not as simple as switching on you TV and pressing ‘1’. To watch, sports fans will need to add TNT Sports onto their BT Broadband package or their Sky TV package. Alternatively, sign up via HBO Max from ÂŁ25.99 per month.
If you are not too fussed about commentary, there are a few loopholes to consider: Gaelic language broadcaster BBC Alba will air live coverage and highlights on BBC iPlayer, as will Welsh language broadcaster S4C.
Where Will The 2027 Commonwealth Games Be Held?
Despite all of the back and forth between Australia and Scotland in hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the host for the 2030 Games is already confirmed. The host will be Ahmedabad, the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat in the northwest corner of the country. This will be the second Commonwealth Games ever hosted in India, following the 2010 Games in Delhi.
And planning is already well underway, with venues reportedly 85 percent complete as of May 2026; this includes a newly-opened, 21-acre sports complex featuring tennis and swimming facilities. Upgrades to the local roads and metro system as well as housing facilities are all promised as part of the bid.
Similar Games
The Commonwealth Games is a celebration of the oft-complicated relationship between Great Britain and its former territories across the globe. But Britain is not alone in being a former colonial power. The Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games) pit France’s former colonies (including places like Morocco, Madagascar, Canada, Niger, Lebanon and CĂ´te d’Ivoire) as well as French-speaking nations or those with strong diplomatic ties (like Bulgaria, Andorra, Switzerland and Greece) head-to-head across a series of artistic and sporting events. First held in 1989 in Morocco, the next edition will take place in Armenia in summer 2027.
Portugal similarly holds the Jogos da Lusofonia (Lusofonia Games) for the Portuguese-speaking world, again comprised of former colonies, overseas provinces and territories. Since it was created in 2006, three editions have taken place. Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Macau, Mozambique, SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe and Sri Lanka have all competed, as well as Portugal. However, both the 2017 and 2021 instalments were cancelled, and it is not clear if the Jorgos will return.
