Glasgow to welcome Commonwealth in 2026

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The Australian Commonwealth Games Team is Glasgow bound on 23 July – 2 August 2026.

Confirmed today by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the 10-sport program will continue the Games’ proud history in Scotland and welcome more than 2700 athletes from 74 nations.

Australian Commonwealth Games Team Chef de Mission, Petria Thomas OAM, welcomed the announcement, declaring it a key milestone on the road to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“We knew the Games were headed to Glasgow, and we now know when they’ll be and the sports that will take part – it’s an exciting milestone in our preparations,” Thomas said.

“We are committed to delivering an experience for Australia’s team that exceeds Birmingham, with no stone to be left unturned as we target both performance excellence and memories that last a lifetime.”

Thomas also credited Scotland for stepping up to host the Games.

“Glasgow is a major event city and we’re very confident about their capacity to deliver something amazing in a reimagined way,” Thomas added.

“The Scots have declared their commitment to delivering a Games centred around athletes, and that’s all we can ask of any potential host.”

Confirmation of dates and the sport program by the CGF follows the announcement of Scottish and UK Governments’ support for the bold hosting vision last month.

The Games will be sustainable and cost-effective, highlighting how potential future hosts can capitalise on existing infrastructure and resources to deliver an immersive and world-leading experience for the athletes of the Commonwealth and the thousands of fans that support them.

“I want to thank Commonwealth Games Scotland for their commitment to hosting the 2026 Games,” Ben Houston, Commonwealth Games Australia President, said.

“To continue to thrive, the movement needed a reset after the Victorian Government made the decision to cancel and Scotland has delivered the perfect blueprint for ongoing success and development.”

“I look forward to sharing the experience with a forecast Australian Team of more than 400 athletes and officials.”

The Commonwealth Games play a pivotal role in Australia’s high-performance pathway, with 46% of Australian athletes making their international debut at the Games and more than half of Commonwealth Games medallists going on to medal at subsequent international competitions.

Australia topped the medal tally at Birmingham 2022 with 180 medals, including 67 gold, 57 silver and 56 bronze, edging out England who claimed a total of 176 medals and 57 gold.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Team aspires to be the number one nation in terms of gold medals won, overall medals won, medallists and the number of sports winning medals at the Games.

The 2026 Games will be the 23rd edition of the major multi-sport competition, which first began in Hamilton, Canada in 1930.

Glasgow 2026 Sport Program

  • Athletics and Para-Athletics
  • Basketball 3×3 and Wheelchair Basketball
  • Bowls and Para-Bowls
  • Boxing
  • Cycling and Para-Cycling (Track)
  • Gymnastics (Artistic)
  • Judo
  • Netball
  • Swimming and Para-Swimming
  • Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting

Glasgow 2026 Venues

  • Scotstoun Stadium
  • Tollcross International Swimming Centre
  • Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome
  • Scottish Events Campus

Additional information:

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) acknowledges those sports excluded from the 2026 Commonwealth Games program and is working collaboratively with them to ensure they remain a valued member of the Commonwealth sport family.

The CGA Board of Directors will host a General Meeting in December, seeking approval from the membership to amend the Constitution regarding the eligibility criteria for Sport Members.

The amendments seek to retain membership for sports who have participated in any of the last three Games or are on the program for Glasgow 2026.

This will ensure CGA’s membership remains inclusive and representative, while also enabling CGA to continue its collaboration with the widest possible cohort of National Sporting Organisations.

The Green2Gold2Great investment program will remain aimed at delivering team success at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Additional avenues that provide support to sports not on the Glasgow 2026 sport program are currently being considered with updates to be provided soon.

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