Glasgow to host 2026 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Scotland has secured the required Scottish and UK Government support for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) President, Ben Houston enthused “this is a fantastic outcome for the Commonwealth sport movement.

“We commend and applaud Commonwealth Games Scotland for their reimagination of the Games in a sustainable and cost-effective way, as well as the Scottish and UK Government for their support of the concept.”

Glasgow will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games following Victoria’s withdrawal as host and with a 'generous' contribution from Australia.

The Games had been due to be staged in regional Victoria, but in July 2023, the then-Andrews government announced that wasn't happening, saying the games had become too expensive.

Houston added “Australia’s athletes, and those from across the Oceania region, are now expected to have the chance to compete on the global stage as the pathway to Brisbane 2032 continues.”

Houston doubled down on the importance of the Commonwealth Games to the Australian high-performance pathway as one of five pinnacle event opportunities outlined in Australia’s HP 2032+ Sport Strategy.

46% of Australia’s athletes first compete in the green and gold at the Commonwealth Games and 51% of athletes who medal at the Commonwealth Games go on to medal at their next international competition.

“The Commonwealth Games are at the heart of Australia’s performance pathway, often providing the launch pad for continued and ongoing success by Australian athletes,” Houston said.

“They are irreplaceable in terms of providing global competition and, in the absence of an Australian host, it was in the interests of Australian sport that we make an overseas Games a reality.”

On Tuesday, it was revealed CGA would pay £2.3 million ($4.5 million) towards Glasgow's games.

It's understood that under the proposal, no public funding is required from the Scottish Government to host the games, which will be scaled-down and feature less events.

The proposal still needs to be put to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which is the international organisation responsible for the event.

Houston acknowledged that the reduced sport programme will impact several CGA member sports.

“We know that a reduced sport programme will have an impact on some member sports and their athletes, and our commitment to them is that they will remain a valued member of the Commonwealth family,” Houston added.

In the coming weeks, final stakeholder discussions will take place to provide for the formal announcement of Glasgow, Scotland as host.

This includes Games dates for the European summer, the sport programme and the multi-million pound contribution that CGA will make to delivering Glasgow 2026.

Houston continued "Commonwealth Games Australia welcomes the enthusiasm for the Games by the Scottish and UK Governments, and we want to do all that we can to make Glasgow 2026 a reality.

"We appreciate that the model is different and that that creates perceived financial and reputational challenges, but we have every confidence in the model proposed by Commonwealth Games Scotland.

"As one of the beneficiaries of the settlement with the Victorian Government, we today commit a multi-million pound investment into the Games to be further negotiated with Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Scottish Government."

In the coming weeks, final stakeholder discussions will take place to provide for the formal announcement of Glasgow, Scotland as host.

This includes Games dates for the European summer, the sport programme and the multi-million pound contribution that CGA will make to delivering Glasgow 2026.

Glasgow last hosted the games in 2014.

Image. Team Scotland Commonwealth Games 2022 Credit: Scottish Athletics