Commonwealth Games 2026 set to be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland

UK Government’s Health Secretary Neil Gray, however, warned that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would be different from when Glasgow previously hosted the event.

Existing facilities, including the Hampden Park Stadium, will be used and the Australian contribution is tipped to be used to help cover extra policing and security costs. | Photo Credit: AFP

Scotland has rescued the Commonwealth Games that were in jeopardy after Australia’s Victoria state backed out of plans to host the 2026 sporting event.

Glasgow, which hosted the event 10 years ago, will do so again, though some sports will need to be dropped as the Commonwealth Games Federation aims to reduce costs to make the competition more sustainable in the future.

“It will be scaled back compared to 2014 but will be a celebration of sporting achievement,” Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney posted on X on Tuesday. “Excited about Glasgow 2026.”

The event held every four years was established in 1930 as the British Empire Games and is open to 74 nations and territories. It has been staged in Australia, Canada, England, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. Birmingham hosted the 2022 games.

Victoria state lawmakers cited escalating costs when they withdrew their commitment last year to host the games, though an inquiry later found the estimates they relied on were overstated.

Scotland’s agreement to pick up the baton will not require any additional government funding, Health Secretary Neil Gray said.

The CGF has provided an additional 20 million pounds (USD 26 million) of funding, including 5 million pounds (USD 6.5 million) for Glasgow to use in part for capital upgrades, Gray said. The U.K. government will also set aside 2.3 million pounds (USD 3 million) if contingency funds are exceeded.