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The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially underway. While this major multi-sport spectacle may not be on the same level as the Olympics, it's still one of the best opportunities Australia's top athletes have to compete on the world stage.
Known as the “Friendly Games”, this year's event will bring together more than 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations across ten sports, with para-sports incorporated into the main program. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
When and where is the Commonwealth Games 2026?
After Victoria pulled out due to major funding issues, Glasgow – Scotland's largest city – took over as the official host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This year's scaled-back event will feature ten days of competition, kicking off with the Opening Ceremony on Thursday, July 23 and ending with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, August 2.
How to watch the Commonwealth Games in Australia?
You can watch the Commonwealth Games 2026 live and free in Australia on the Seven Network and its digital streaming platform, 7plus.
Which sports are in the Commonwealth Games 2026?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature ten sports, which is half the 20 initially planned for Victoria. Athletics and swimming were the only compulsory events on the program, which now also includes 3x3 basketball, lawn bowls, track cycling and weightlifting – all of which have a para-event counterpart. Artistic gymnastics, boxing, judo and netball round out the final ten.
Popular sports, including cricket, rugby sevens, table tennis, hockey, badminton and beach volleyball, have all been left off the 2026 program.
Which Australians are competing in the Commonwealth Games?
Australia has sent 256 athletes to compete across ten sports at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, led by team captains and Opening Ceremony flag bearers Nina Kennedy (pole vault) and Tim Hodge (para-swimming). Stars to watch include women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team: Emma McKeon, Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris, middle-distance runner Cameron Myers, Para-athlete Angela Ballard, cyclist Georgia Baker, and lawn bowler Aaron Wilson.
How often are the Commonwealth Games held?
Just like the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games are held every four years. Since the inaugural event in 1930, the Games have been hosted in Australia four times, including Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982, Melbourne in 2006 and the Gold Coast in 2018.
How many countries compete in the Commonwealth Games?
Unlike the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games only features athletes from Commonwealth nations or member states, including Australia, the UK, Canada, India, Scotland, Singapore, Jamaica and South Africa. While the Commonwealth of Nations consists of 56 countries, the Games also include several territories and dependencies, bringing the total to around 74 competing associations.
Why did Victoria cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
In April 2022, it was announced that regional Victoria would host the 2026 Commonwealth Games across four hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. The Games were expected to inject more than $3 billion into Victoria’s economy and generate thousands of full-time jobs. However, in July 2023, former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews revealed the predicted cost of the 12-day event had blown out from $2.6 billion to more than $7 billion, resulting in regional Victoria withdrawing as the 2026 host.