Yesterday, Glasgow was officially confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Because there are only two years to prepare for the event, the next Games will be modified to be “lighter and leaner”. The Games will feature ten sports and six para-sports. Several included at Birmingham 2022 have been cut from the program.
Glasgow CommGames
The state of Victoria was meant to host the Games, but decided to withdraw in July 2023 due to high costs. In September 2024, Scotland’s Sport Minister Neil Gray announced the Scottish Government were happy with plans for a “scaled-back, but high-quality” Glasgow-based Games. Those plans now have official backing from the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Part of the appeal for Scotland is that the Games will not require any public funding. Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) will be responsible for running the event. Gray said the organisation would not call upon the UK or Scottish government for financial assistance but instead modify the scale of the event to meet financial constraints.
Which sports have been cut?
Rugby sevens, hockey, cricket, triathlon and para-triathlon, squash, beach volleyball, diving, badminton, table tennis and para-table tennis, wrestling, road cycling and mountain biking have all been cut after featuring at the 2022 Games in Birmingham.
What they said
World Rugby said in a statement: “The absence of rugby sevens, along with other team sports, at Glasgow 2026 is a significant loss for players, fans, and the Games themselves”.
Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said: “It is a disappointing announcement, not just for hockey but for all of the sports who have missed out in the reduced format”.
Squash Australia CEO Robert Donaghue said the news was “a blow to the players who have had their dream of competing in the Commonwealth Games taken away from them”.
When are the games?
The Games will be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026.