The Commonwealth Games 2026, officially designated the XXIII Commonwealth Games, will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026. This marks the city's second time hosting the Games, following the successful 2014 edition. As this city gets ready to welcome more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations, we clue you into all the details you need to enjoy them.
What to Know About the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
- This edition, initially slated for Victoria, Australia, brings Glasgow's 2014 Games' tradition and history to the fore.
- This year's instalment comprises 10 sports, including 6 para-disciplines.
- You may purchase tickets from the Games' official website.
- You can stream the Games on TNT Sports or catch the highlights on 5.
2026 Commonwealth Games Overview
Excitement is building for this year's edition of the Commonwealth Games. The press is hyping the event and several promotional campaigns highlight it from every angle, from the athletic to the cultural.
It might be challenging to distil vital information from all this. So, in this section, you can learn the basics of what the Commonwealth Games are, and all the information you need to prepare you for them.
Commonwealth Games 2026 Dates and Venue Particulars
Opening ceremony: Thursday, 23 July
Closing ceremony: Sunday, 2 August
Athletic events: 24 July - 2 August
New for this year: The King's Baton Relay format1 has changed somewhat. Each participating nation has received its own baton, handcrafted in Glasgow. Each country may personalise its baton to reflect its distinctive culture.
The baton and the King's goodwill message it contains are an integral part of the Games' opening ceremony. Typically, the monarch or his representative reads that message just before declaring the contest open; this is the highpoint of Games' pomp. After the ceremony, enthusiasts need this table to help them plan which events they will attend.
| ⛹️♂️ Sport | 📅 Dates | 📍 Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics para-athletics | 27 July - 1 August | Scotstoun Stadium |
| Swimming para-swimming | 24 - 29 July | Tollcross International Swimming Centre |
| bowls and para-bowls | 24 July - 2 August | SEC Centre |
| 3x3 basketball 3x3 wheelchair basketball | 24 - 29 July | SEC Centre |
| weightlifting para-powerlifting | 26 - 30 July 24 July | SEC Armadillo |
| track cycling para-track cycling | 30 July - 2 August | Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome |
| boxing | 24 July - 1 August No boxing event on 30 July | SEC Centre |
| netball | 25 July - 2 August | The Hydro |
| judo | 31 July - 2 August | SEC Centre |
| artistic gymnastics | 24 - 28 July | The Arena |
Nations and Athletes Participating
Number of countries represented: 74
Number of athletes competing: 3,000+
Number of venues hosting events: 4
Number of tickets available for sale: 500,000
Ticket price range: £17 - 55, depending on event and seating preference.
Of all the countries represented, Togo and Gabon stand out2. These two nations joined the Commonwealth in 2022; itself a remarkable statistic because they don't have a legacy affiliation with Great Britain. Please join us in wishing them all the best for their debut in this competition.
The Commonwealth Games are called 'The Friendly Games' because everyone speaks English.
Speaking English is one condition of Commonwealth membership. Of course, that requirement goes alongside native language mastery; English shouldn't replace one's own tongue! Where the Games are concerned, that means no language barriers separate the contestants, as typically happens at other international sports events.
Commonwealth Games Tickets
Unfortunately, no all-event pass exists; spectators must purchase a ticket for each event they wish to attend. All the standard ticket-selling platforms offer Commonwealth Games tickets: Ticketmaster, Ticketek, and resale platforms (Stubhub and Twickets).
However, these outlets often have added fees and higher prices. You may, instead, direct yourself to the official Commonwealth Games page to buy your tickets for a more stable price.
This close to the Games, the most highly sought-after events are sold out.
Commonwealth Games 2026 Volunteering Opportunities
Commonwealth Games volunteers provide valuable services, such as directing spectators to their seats and various other concessions. They staff guest facilities such as storage locker spaces, and hand out promotional materials.
Volunteering for Games services makes for an excellent entry on high school and university student CVs. It's a great way to meet people from around the world, and to witness the meticulous coordination needed to make such an event go off without a hitch. And, it's a chance to do your bit to present Glasgow in its best light.
Unfortunately, all volunteer slots have been filled, and the applications platform has closed.
But keep these opportunities in mind! You may volunteer for other international initiatives.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games Sports and Venues
You might think all this has already been discussed and settled. However, this section presents a few nuggets not yet disclosed.
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Venues
Glasgow is the city, but these four venues are where the action is at:
Scotstoun Stadium: no parking facilities available; public transportation access only.
Tollcross International Swimming Centre: a 15-minute walk from Carntyne station.
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome: 10 minutes from Dalmarnock train station.
Scottish Event Campus (SEC): multi-level car park on premises; walking distance from Exhibition Centre train stop; 3 buses from central Glasgow.
All of the venues hosting Games events sit within an easily walkable eight-mile zone3. The area is gridded with walking and cycling paths, should you decide to ride to all the events you have tickets for. Most have easy access to public transportation, so driving is discouraged. Besides, imagine the congestion when everyone leaves those venues!
Featured Sports
The table above tells us which sports will feature and when/where those contests take place. Here, we cover noteworthy facts and slight changes to select events.
*For the first time in Commonwealth Games history, female athletes will be admitted to the Mile event. You might know of the Miracle Mile race held during the 1954 Vancouver Games, when runners Roger Bannister and John Landy both ran a mile in less than four minutes.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 Mascot
Each Games instalment features its own mascot. Typically, these creatures reflect the host country's (and city's) history, culture, and lore. For the upcoming event, Glasgow gives us Finnie, a Glaswegian unicorn with several adorable features4.
Scottish children from across the country gave input on Finnie's creation. The world met her on 23 July 2025, one year to the day of the 2026 Games' opening ceremony. Naturally, Finnie has been well briefed on her mission: to greet the crowds and keep the energy up throughout the Games.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Significance and Historical Context
In all the Commonwealth Games' history, only two cities have hosted this event twice: Edinburgh (1970, 1986) and Auckland (1950, 1990). This year, Glasgow joins that rarefied list. Fresh off its 2014 hosting duties, Glesga picks up the mantle again, but things weren't supposed to go this way.
Glasgow: the Transition City
Commonwealth nations, territories and even cities bid for hosting rights years ahead of upcoming Games events. In 2022, the Australian state of Victoria successfully bid to host the Games but withdrew its bid 11 months later, in July 2023.
Obviously, that posed quite a dilemma for the Games organisers. It takes years of planning to allocate funds, reserve venues, and coordinate with local authorities on everything from security to traffic management.
Glasgow stepped into the breach as the only viable option. This city already had suitable and purpose-built venues from its 2014 hosting stint (the Velodrome and Hydro). If the planners could skinny things down a bit - maybe fewer events, perhaps more streamlining - the Games might yet go off without a hitch.
And so, in April 2024, the Commonwealth Games Federation announced Glasgow as "the last possibility". Funding would be a mix of Federation and sponsor money. Athletes would find accommodations in university dorms and hotels. Furious debating ensued.
On 17 September 2024, the Commonwealth Games Council announced that Glasgow would host the Games. That late decision left the city with less than 2 years to prepare for the event.
The Games' Economic Impacts
Ballooning costs were the reason for Victoria's withdrawal from hosting. The state simply couldn't justify the billions of dollars it would take to make the Games a memorable event.
Funding won't be such a problem for Glasgow, as the city already has all the needed infrastructure. Furthermore, planning was deliberately pared down to reduce costs, such that all the currently available monies are enough to cover expenses.
The flipside of the economic 'question' is how much Glasgow stands to gain from hosting. Obviously, gains from tourism and hospitality will abound, especially as tourism is a pillar of the city's economy.
PricewaterhouseCoopers reports that hosting the Games provides over £1 billion in revenue.
Nobody can predict how much will roll into Glasgow's coffers once all is done. But it's reassuring to know that Glaswegians won't take a hit to their city's budget by hosting this year's event.
How to Watch the Commonwealth Games
The best place to watch the Commonwealth Games is live at the venues, of course. But if you can't make it there, you can still catch all the excitement on your telly or streaming device.
TNT Sports
TNT has an exclusive licence to broadcast the full event live.
HBO Max
The full programme is available for streaming.
(Channel) 5
Delivers daily highlights of the Games.
Granted, you might feel frustrated at missing your favourite athletes from Team England, or witnessing Gabon and Togo's debut live. Still, you have at least three options to capture all the magic. Even better: you can host your own watch parties!
References
- Elizabeth. “Launch of the King’s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games 2026!” Royal Commonwealth S, 10 Mar. 2025, www.royalcwsociety.org/post/launch-of-the-king-s-baton-relay-for-the-commonwealth-games-2026. Accessed 7 June 2026.
- McPherson, Gayle. “The 2026 Commonwealth Games Will Create an Economic Model That Allows Smaller Nations to Step up and Host.” The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2024, theconversation.com/the-2026-commonwealth-games-will-create-an-economic-model-that-allows-smaller-nations-to-step-up-and-host-241059. Accessed 7 June 2026.
- “Glasgow 2026 - Venues.” Glasgow 2026, 2022, www.glasgow2026.com/venues. Accessed 7 June 2026.
- “Magic Moment: Official Glasgow 2026 Mascot Finnie Unveiled - Glasgow Life.” Glasgow Life, 2026, www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/magic-moment-as-official-glasgow-2026-mascot-finnie-is-unveiled. Accessed 7 June 2026.
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