2026 Commonwealth Games
Upcoming multi-sport event From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 Commonwealth Games (Scottish Gaelic: Geamannan a' Cho-fhlaitheis 2026), officially known as the XXIII Commonwealth Games and Glasgow 2026 (Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu 2026; Scots: Glesga 2026), is a planned multi-sport event scheduled from 23 July to 2 August 2026, to be hosted in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, for members of the Commonwealth of Nations.[2][3] This will be the fourth Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Scotland, following the 1970 and 1986 games in Edinburgh, and the 2014 games in Glasgow.
| |
| Host | Glasgow, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Nations | 74 Commonwealth Games Associations (expected) |
| Athletes | 3,000 (expected) |
| Events | 10 sports |
| Opening | 23 July 2026[1] |
| Closing | 2 August 2026 |
| Main venue | Scotstoun Stadium |
| Website | Glasgow 2026 |
For some time, the Games were without a host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew, having initially been announced as the host in April 2022.[4] On 18 July 2023, the Victorian state government cancelled its plans due to escalating cost projections. The city of Gold Coast, Queensland, briefly offered to co-host the event but later withdrew for similar reasons. With no host, there was a risk that the Games might be postponed to 2027 or cancelled entirely.[5][6][7]
On 11 August 2024, reports surfaced that Glasgow had reached an agreement to take over the hosting rights,[8] but the next day it was clarified that talks were ongoing with no final agreement or imminent announcement. Commonwealth Games Scotland proposed a scaled-back version of the event, featuring 10 to 13 sports and using existing infrastructure, with £100 million in funding from the Commonwealth Games Federation and an additional £30 to 50 million from commercial sources, ensuring no significant public funds would be required.[9]
A further update on 30 August 2024 confirmed that the Games would be primarily funded by AU$200 million, secured as compensation from the Victorian government following their withdrawal.[10][11] On 17 September 2024, it was announced that the Scottish government had agreed to host the games with financial backing from Commonwealth Games Australia.[3] The scaled-down and low-cost Games will feature 11 sports taking place over four venues and no athletes' village.[3]
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be the first to be held since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III as Head of the Commonwealth.
Host selection
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First selection
During the CGF General Assembly on 31 March 2017 in Gold Coast, after the troubled 2022 Commonwealth Games host city bid process, the executive board announced that it had planned to award both 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games simultaneously at the CGF General Assembly scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda in September 2019. A new model called CGF Partnerships (CGFP) was implemented which aimed to give stronger support to the associations and cities that show interests in hosting future Games, and enhance the overall value of the event. This is similar to the process used by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2017.[12][13]
In 2015, the South African city of Durban originally won the rights to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but was stripped of this right in 2017 due to financial concerns.[14][15] As a result, Birmingham moved up its planned Games from 2026 to 2022.[16] This left the 2026 Games without a host and bids from Kuala Lumpur, Cardiff, Calgary, Edmonton and Adelaide were all withdrawn due to concerns over costs, with a hosting decision not made by the Commonwealth Games Federation between 2019 and 2022.[16]
In January 2022, the Victorian State Government announced it was giving serious consideration to a late request from the CGF to host the Games. On 16 February 2022, Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews confirmed that the state was in exclusive negotiations with the CGF to host the Games.[17] It was stated that if successful in hosting the Games a second time, a Victorian bid would aim to emphasise the state's regional centres—such as Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo—as opposed to being predominantly Melbourne-based, such as in 2006. Bendigo had previously hosted the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games. Acceptance of the bid would likely also be conditional upon agreement on ways to control costs, such as housing athletes and officials in hotels rather than a dedicated village.[18][19] This bid was confirmed as successful on 12 April 2022.[20]
On 18 July 2023, Andrews and Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan announced the state government intended to cancel the 2026 Victorian Games.[5][7] Fifteen months after agreeing to host the Games, the Premier said the cost had escalated to an estimated A$6–7 billion, double the estimated economic benefits for the state, and the government could not justify the expense.[21] The state said it would terminate its host agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation and seek a settlement of the contract.[6] The withdrawal prompted a new search for a host for the 2026 Games.[22]
| City / region | Nation | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria |  Australia |
Unanimous (2022) Withdrew (2023) |
Second selection
Initial interest
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan subsequently said he was "ready" to support the London bid to replace Victoria as the host.[23] The First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf also stated that he was "willing to consider proposals" for Scotland to host at least some of the events at the Games.[24]
On 4 December 2023, the Gold Coast ruled itself out of hosting the games.[25] On the same day, the British government confirmed that there would be "no UK rescue" for the games and that they would not be hosted in the United Kingdom, citing that there is no financial appetite or any preliminary planning in place to allow another British city to intervene again after Birmingham 2022.[26]
On 11 March 2024, the Olympic Council of Malaysia revealed that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had offered Malaysia approximately £100 million to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games on a smaller scale than initially planned, with discussions ongoing.[27] However, on 22 March 2024, the Malaysian Cabinet declined the offer, stating that the £100 million would be insufficient to cover the event's costs. Furthermore, the Federal Government was unwilling to use taxpayers' money to fund the games, especially given the risk of a scheduling clash with the 2027 SEA Games, also set to be held in Malaysia.[28]
On 14 March 2024, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), Sport Singapore (SportSG), and Commonwealth Games Singapore (CGS) announced they were exploring the feasibility of hosting the games, including the possibility of a joint proposal with Malaysia to reduce expenses. However, on 3 April 2024, CGS and SportSG confirmed that Singapore would not submit a bid.[29]
On 8 April 2024, the CGF indicated that a new host for the 2026 Games might be announced the following month, and on 9 April 2024, Ghana's Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, expressed interest in hosting the event following Accra’s successful hosting of the 2023 African Games in March 2024.[30][31]
Scottish bid
On 11 April 2024, it was announced that Glasgow was considered as a "last possibility" to host the 2026 Games in the event, if no other host was forthcoming, in an alternative to safeguard the Games.[32] It was reported that the Games would be in a smaller scale and could reuse venues from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Accommodation for the athletes would comprise hotels, and possibly a combination of Glasgow Caledonian University and University of Glasgow student residences.[32] Furthermore, the costs of the Games would be covered fully by the Commonwealth Games Federation and their other corporate sponsors.[32] Discussions were ongoing between Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Scottish Government, and EventScotland with a confirmed bid expected by the end of the month.[33] However, the bid documents would not end up being submitted at that time. On 25 July 2024, BBC reported that a decision would be made in August.[34]
On 11 August 2024, it was speculated that an agreement was reached for Glasgow to take over the hosting rights of the games.[8] A statement from the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland issued on 30 August 2024, suggested a compact and low scale games concept with 10 sports across four venues including the Scotstoun Stadium and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.[11]
On 17 September 2024, it was announced that the Scottish Government had agreed to host the games with compensation from Victoria.[3]
| City / region | Nation | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow |  Scotland |
Unanimous |
Development and preparations
Venues
The following venues are expected to be used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games:[1][35]
- Scotstoun Stadium – Athletics
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre – Swimming
- Commonwealth Arena – Artistic Gymnastics or Netball
- Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – Track Cycling
- SEC Armadillo - Weightlifting
- SEC Centre - 3x3 Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Judo
- The Hydro - Artistic Gymnastics or Netball
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King's Baton Relay
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The King's Baton was officially launched on 10 March 2025, to mark the start of the 500 days countdown, with King Charles III handing over the baton to the first runner, Sir Chris Hoy. The baton was designed by Tim Norman and is made from ash wood. The Games organization decided that he would be sent to the Caribbean region to start the global relay with Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago, as the first international stop. The choice of Trinidad and Tobago was as a result of the country successfully hosting the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. The Caribbean part of the Baton Relay will culminate in Saint Vicent and Granadines on Saturday 14 June, before the African leg (15 June to 24 October), then Asia (25 October to 21 December), Oceania (2 January to 26 March 2026), Americas (27 March to 6 May 2026), and Europe (8 May to 23 July 2026). For the first time ever, each of the current 74 Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) will receive their own Baton, crafted in Glasgow, and being able to customize it according to their culture. Thus, each place where each of these pieces has passed through will be able to customize it as part of the demonstration of its culture or local characteristics, with total creative freedom for this, breaking the tradition of a baton as a mere museum piece. Another tradition that will be broken will be that of the formal passage of the object from one country or territory to another, eliminating any possibility of using fuel or causing a traffic jam during the trip, giving new opportunities for local people. Thanks to this innovative format, the 18th Baton Relay will be the longest and most inclusive for a Commonwealth Games, with the 74 CGAs each having up to six days to organise their series of activities, giving oportunities to each one to have more time to celebrate. Also as the first time as part of The King's Baton Relay, Commonwealth Sport is partnering with the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) to elaborate and demonstrate the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign – bringing much-needed attention to both ongoing ocean conservation efforts and interesting new solutions to re-using plastic waste. The King's Baton Relay will culminate at the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026 on 23 July 2026, as a traditional and fundamental part of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremonies.[36][37][38]
Ceremonies
As part of the proposed plan put forward by Commonwealth Games Scotland, the opening and closing ceremonies are expected to be scaled down compared to previous Games.[39] It is unknown as of yet whether the ceremonies will take place in a stadium or another venue in Glasgow.
The rapper Snoop Dogg had said he would want to perform at the opening ceremony if it were to be held at Celtic Park; the same venue that hosted the 2014 Games opening ceremony.[40]
Sports
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Given the urgency and lack of time to organise the event, this will be the first time since 1994 Commonwealth Games that the programme will have only 10 sports, including the two compulsory sports:[41]
Athletics (49) ()
- Para-athletics (16) ()
3x3 basketball (2) ()
- 3x3 wheelchair basketball (2) ()
Boxing ()
Gymnastics ()
- Artistic gymnastics (14)
Judo (14) ()
Lawn bowls (4) ()
- Para bowls (3) ()
Netball (1) ()
Swimming (42) ()
- Para swimming (14) ()
Track cycling (18)
Weightlifting (16) ()
Para powerlifting (4) ()
Sports dropped from the previous Games include rugby sevens, field hockey, badminton, triathlon, Twenty20 cricket, squash, diving, table tennis, beach volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, and freestyle wrestling. Some events in athletics (road racing and race walking) and cycling (mountain bike and road cycling) were also dropped.[41][42][43]
Parasports
The Games will feature the largest number of parasport events in Commonwealth Games history, with 47 finals across six sports.
Athletics
World Athletics (WA) decided to add the mixed 4x400 race and opted to the return of the Mile event that replaces the 1,500m race. The mile, last held in 1966; organisers considered the revival an homage to the "Miracle Mile" from Vancouver 1954 between Roger Bannister and John Landy, and for the first time ever, this event will be contested by women. Parathletics will see athletes competing in the three disciplines of the sport: jumping, throwing and track events.
Basketball
The number of teams in the 3x3 basketball tournaments has been expanded. While the number of teams in the standing tournament has increased from 12, the number of the wheelchair teams has increased to 8.
Cycling
Despite the non-occurrence of mountain biking and street events, the number of cycling events held was maintained at 26. However, the number of parasports events doubled from 4 to 8.
Swimming
The number of events in the swimming program increased from 52 to 54 across both Para and non Para competitions, with the addition of the 800m freestyle event for men and the 1500m freestyle event for women.
Lawn bowls
In Glasgow 2026, there will be another novelty in that this edition will be the first in which the lawn bowls tournament will be played indoors and in line with this, the number of events will fall from 11 to 7, as the trios and quartets events have also been removed.[44]
Marketing
Visual identity
The logo for the 2026 Commonwealth Games was described as a "historic first", integrating the Commonwealth Games Federation logo with the visual and institutional identity of the city of Glasgow. It features symbolic representations of the River Clyde and the Clyde Arc bridge, interwoven within the Commonwealth Sport celebration mark, displayed in the colours of the waterfront. It was created by Glasgow-based agency Loop Design.[45]
Broadcasting
See also
- 1976 Winter Olympics - initial host (Denver) also backed out due to cost estimates after a referendum, replaced by Innsbruck
- 1989 Summer Universiade – initial host (São Paulo) also backed out due to cost estimates, replaced by Duisburg
- 2019 Summer Universiade – initial host (Brasília) also backed out due to cost estimates, replaced by Naples
- 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie – initial host (Moncton) also backed out due to cost estimates, replaced by Kinshasa
References
External links
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