Overview
When will the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games take place?
The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026.
How many sports are included?
Glasgow 2026 will include 10 sports, including six Para sports.
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Athletics and Para Athletics
- Bowls and Para Bowls
- Boxing
- Cycling Track and Para Cycling Track
- Netball
- Judo
- Swimming and Para Swimming
- Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
- 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball
What sport venues will be used?
The following four venues will be used:
- The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena
- The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) including the SEC Armadillo, SEC Centre and The Hydro
- Scotstoun Stadium
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre
How many athletes do you expect to participate in the Games?
Up to 3,000 from 74 nations and territories from across the Commonwealth are set to compete at Glasgow 2026, creating 11 days of exhilarating competition across the city.
Sports
How many medal events will there be?
Over 200 medals will be up for grabs across 10 exhilarating sports including six Para sports at Glasgow 2026.
Glasgow 2026 will feature the largest ever Para sport programme in Games history alongside the biggest Track Cycling and Swimming programmes, the return of the Commonwealth Mile in Athletics and a bolstered 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball competition.
How were the sports selected?
The host nation – Scotland - identifies the sports programme to be included in the Games, alongside two compulsory sports that must be included – Athletics/Para Athletics and Swimming/Para Swimming.
The remaining sports are then chosen based on several factors including CGF Regulation 6 which outlines the criteria they consider when approving a sports programme.
These factors include:
- Universality of participation
- Quality of competition
- Benefit to Games hosts, including local appeal, cost and operational complexity
- Alignment with CGF values
- Creating a balanced programme
For Glasgow 2026 we also took into consideration other key factors including:
- Maintaining manageable total athlete numbers
- Fitting within a small number of existing venues, ideally with established operational plans for sport delivery
- Minimising risks and uncertainty of legislative/planning complications due to the time and budgetary constraints
A sport selection panel considered all factors before making a recommendation to the CGF’s Sport Committee and Executive Board.
What about the sports and athletes not included?
We know how much the Commonwealth Games means to athletes and sports, so we naturally understand that sports which aren’t included will be disappointed.
Whilst there is disappointment for every Games cycle, from our engagement with sports, we know they understand that this was the best route towards securing a sustainable future for the Commonwealth Games, and that the sport selection in 2026 will not influence the programme for future Games.
Venues
Why did you pick those four venues?
Delivering a new model for the Games here in Glasgow has been possible because of the city’s world-class sporting venues, major-event expertise and an unbeatable track record of local, national and international partnerships.
All four iconic venues were chosen because they already have a proven track record in hosting world-class sporting events and would require the minimal amount of venue readiness to prepare for the Games.
Will there be any capital investment into facilities?
Yes, multi-million-pound investments will be made into the venue sporting facilities, including a new Athletics track at Scotstoun Stadium. Work on the Athletics track will begin in June 2025.
The readiness work at venues is privately funded through the Organising Company, and new facilities such as the Athletics track will be gifted to the city of Glasgow, leaving a tangible long-term legacy for local communities.
Will any facilities be built for the Games?
No, we have no plan to build new facilities. Some overlay may be required in venues (e.g. temporary stands, surface work etc.) but there is no requirement or plans for new facilities to be built.
Where will athletes stay?
Athletes will stay in hotel accommodation within accommodation hubs close to venues, allowing for active travel to competition and training venues, and a smaller transport network.
This is similar to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where athletes were spread across four sites and staying in a mixture of hotel and university accommodation. The model was also used for last year’s UCI World Cycling Championships and the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2024, both held in Glasgow.
Was Hampden Park (host of Athletics at Glasgow 2014) considered for Athletics?
Given the amount of investment required in converting Hampden Park in 2014, it was determined Hampden wasn’t a solution which would be a viable option on this occasion.
Why did you not consider adding additional venues?
We want Glasgow 2026 to be the best it can be and given the relatively short time frame to deliver the Games, cost and operational risk were the main drivers for not increasing the number of venues.
Every additional venue introduced brings added costs and complexity for venue hire, security, transport etc. To minimise those risks it was determined that it would be too costly to add additional venues.
Will sports be held in general public areas (e.g. streets and roads)?
We have not included sporting events held in public areas. Whilst we understand this will be disappointing for impacted athletes and some fans, the decision brings significant savings in transport and security costs and minimises the disruption for the general public by avoiding road closures.
Which sports will take place in which venues?
We are still working on identifying which sports will be in which venues and this is subject to final confirmation. We will announce further details on sports and venues in due course.
Finances and Benefits
How much will the Games cost?
The projected cost of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is calculated at approximately £130-150 million, with £100 million being invested by the CGF and the reminder of the budget coming from commercial revenue streams such as ticketing, sponsorship, broadcast rights and merchandise.
How does hosting the event benefit Scotland economically?
Glasgow 2026 will bring almost £150million direct external investment in the city of Glasgow, with no cost to the public purse to deliver the sporting competition. We are creating a Glasgow-first supply chain creating jobs and opportunities across the city, including over a thousand Games-time employed roles and the Games will bring millions of pounds of economic impact, including visitor spend, for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
How will this be funded?
The CGF has made £100 million available to fund the core budget, with additional funding made available for capital upgrades and city activation.
Commonwealth Games Australia has also offered an investment of £2.3 million to support Games delivery. Whilst the Games does not require public funding for delivery, the UK Government has also made an additional £2.3 million available as contingency towards security costs if required.
The balance will be funded by commercial revenues including ticket sales, broadcast revenues, commercial sponsorship and merchandise.
The vast majority of the funding, therefore, is secured and in place.
Will the Games receive public funding?
Glasgow 2026 is privately funded and the delivery of the Games does not require – nor have we ever asked for - public funding or a public underwrite from Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government or the UK Government. However, the UK Government has made an additional £2.3 million available as contingency towards security costs if required.
What if costs go up?
The last three Commonwealth Games events were delivered under budget. We have several controls in place to ensure Glasgow 2026 is delivered on budget including a contingency in the Games budget and, in agreement with the CGF, we have the scope to adjust service levels to reduce costs where required.
What are the community benefits of Glasgow hosting the Games?
We are so excited to be bringing the Games to Glasgow. Every aspect of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is being carefully considered to deliver benefits for the city of Glasgow, Scotland and Commonwealth Sport.
The Games will be the largest multi-sport event in the UK in 2026 and will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors who will spend time in our world-class sporting venues and cultural attractions, shopping districts, cafes, restaurants and bars. There will also be additional community benefits including:
- 3,000 Glaswegians and Scots recruited and trained as volunteers with pathways to further and higher education opportunities for those who want it.
- Inspiring people to try new sports and activities and to join grassroots clubs.
- A platform for artists and creatives to explore and express relationships with the Commonwealth.
- A platform to share the stories of all athletes, and the barriers overcome to be able to compete at the friendly Games.
- Increased civic pride, the feel-good factor of a Home Games.
What will the legacy of the Games be?
The major legacy from Glasgow 2026 will acting as a bridge to the future for The Commonwealth Games.
By redefining the Games model, Glasgow 2026 is inspiring future host nations, and seven expressions of interest have been received to host The Games in 2030 and beyond thanks to Scotland’s bravery to step forward and host Glasgow 2026.
Glasgow 2026 is driving Commonwealth Sport’s vision for a groundbreaking ‘reset and reframed’ Commonwealth Games, which aims to:
- Grant host nations greater freedom to co-create the Games, in a way that works for their place and delivers lasting benefits and positive social impacts for host communities and the wider Commonwealth.
- Significantly lower hosting costs by optimising delivery and prioritising existing venues, enabling more countries to host without requiring unplanned infrastructure investment.
- Ensure The Games will feature an exciting, inclusive sports lineup that inspires, celebrates athletes, supports Para and non-Para sports equally.
How will the Games be sustainable?
Glasgow 2026 aims to be a model of sustainable practice. A model that works with the city by concentrating sport competition within existing venues and stadiums, easily accessible by walkways, cycle paths and existing bus and train routes, rather than building new facilities or using facilities which are geographically distant.
We’re also creating a more financially sustainable model for major event delivery, opening up the benefits of hosting a Games to more countries, a priority for Commonwealth Sport.
We’re also working on an Accommodation Hub for athletes in and around the main venues, meaning many athletes can walk to their competitions, reducing the amount of transport needed and encouraging active travel for athletes, support staff and fans.
Governance
Who is organising the Games?
Led by Chair George Black CBE, an independent Board and Chief Executive Officer, Phil Batty OBE, Glasgow 2026 Limited is the Organising Company (OC) which will deliver the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer.
Agile, innovative and embracing a new delivery model, the OC is working in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and Commonwealth Games Scotland to stage the Games.
The OC is privately funded, securing its income through Commonwealth Sport, corporate sponsorship, broadcast rights, global partnerships and ticket sales.
Our four objectives are:
- Deliver a successful Games on time and on budget, with high-quality sport and a great athlete experience.
- Shine a light on Glasgow and Scotland’s people, creativity and experience in delivering exceptional international events and be ready to innovate and embrace change.
- Secure the legacy of Glasgow 2014, delivering impact and public benefit for Scotland from hosting the Games in 2026.
- Advance Commonwealth Sport’s vision for a new era of The Games, by delivering Glasgow 2026 in an altogether brilliant way – a bridge towards the Games in 2030, 2034 and beyond.
Based in the city centre, the OC will directly employ around 160 people. At its heart, is a team of specialists with world-leading major event experience and sporting expertise, coupled with in-depth city knowledge. The OC is and will work with an ecosystem of experienced suppliers to deliver the Games safely and in record time.
Brand
What is the inspiration for the logo?
The Glasgow 2026 logo features Glasgow graphic elements which are inspired by some of the engineering, architectural and natural elements found at the heart of Glasgow.
The three elements include representations of the River Clyde, the Finnieston Crane and the Clyde Arc, which are all centrally aligned in the Commonwealth Sport celebration mark in the colours of the waterfront - symbolising the meeting point for sport and culture at the heart of the Games.
Who designed the logo?
The logo and initial brand look and feel has been developed by Glasgow-based design agency Loop Design Limited.
Miscellaneous
Will there be an opening and closing ceremonies?
Yes – the current plan is to have both opening and closing ceremonies. We will be engaging with the creative sector to reimagine the ceremonies within the budget available.
Will there be a Games mascot?
Yes – the identity of our Games mascot will be revealed in due course.
Will there be volunteer opportunities?
Volunteers will be at the heart of the Glasgow 2026 Games. From friendly faces meeting and greeting on the front line to backstage heroes, volunteers will make the difference between a good and a great experience for those competing and attending.
Details of the volunteer programme for Glasgow 2026 will be announced in 2025.
If you would like to keep up to date with the latest information you can join our mailing list.
When will tickets go on sale?
We anticipate around 500,000 tickets will be available for sale and details of ticketing arrangements will be announced later in the year.
If you would like to keep up to date with the latest information you can join our mailing list.
Will there be a baton relay?
The King’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, Monday 10 March 2025, when His Majesty The King placed His Message to the Commonwealth that will be carried as part of the Relay into the first Baton.
The King’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games and the journey to Glasgow 2026 will take 500 days and reach every corner of the Commonwealth.
For the first time ever, every Commonwealth nation and territory will receive their own Baton for their celebrations and have been asked to customise and decorate this Baton to represent their culture. All 74 batons will be reunited at the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026, where the final Baton will be presented to His Majesty and the Message read aloud to declare the Games open.
To find out more visit https://www.commonwealthsport.com/kings-baton-relay
Keep up to date
Keep up to date with all the latest Games news via Glasgow 2026 social media channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/G2026/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Glasgow_2026/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@glasgow_2026
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@commonwealthsport?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CommonwealthGames
LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/company/Glasgow2026
The Games hashtag is #Glasgow2026
