Commonwealth 2026: One-year countdown to scaled-down Glasgow games

The Commonwealth Games is exactly one year away, as Glasgow gets set to host the event for the second time in 12 years.

Some of the world’s top athletes will arrive in the city next summer for the 2026 games, which kick off on July 23.

The 2014 edition was considered a massive success, with the likes of fastest man on the planet Usain Bolt entertaining fans throughout a memorable summer.

Team Scotland athletes also did their part and had the home crowd cheering them on in every event as they scooped 19 gold, 15 silver, and 19 bronze medals to finish fourth in the overall table.

The games are now returning to Glasgow after the original 2026 host, Victoria, in Australia, pulled out for financial reasons.

Around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations will be competing for over 200 medals, although the number of events has been reduced to fit a tighter schedule.

It will be a much scaled-down version of the usual Commonwealth Games, due to the short notice to prepare, with confirmation only coming at the end of 2024.

Sports schedule

Athletes from ten different sports will be competing at the 2026 games, seven down from the 17 featured 12 years ago.

The sports on show will be athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, judo, 3×3 basketball, gymnastics, netball, and boxing.

Six of those sports, athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, and 3×3 basketball, will also feature para events.

The 3×3 wheelchair basketball event, which debuted at the Birmingham 2022 Games, will return for a second Commonwealth Games appearance.

Venues

The events will take place at four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena, and the Scottish Event Campus.

The venues being used are all within eight miles of each other.

Work is under way to upgrade Scotstoun Stadium, which will host the athletics programme, to get it ready in time for the games.

The work at the home of the Glasgow Warriors rugby team has been described as a “significant milestone”.

An existing athletic track and temporary stands on either side will be removed, and a new surface is being laid.

The Tollcross International Swimming Centre will be the home of swimming, while the Emirates Arena, including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the SEC will host the other eight sports.

Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotel accommodations.