By George France

Glasgow becomes the host city of the Commonwealth Games in 2026 without competition after the original host city Victoria, Australia, pulled out due to the rising cost to host the competition. The 23rd edition of the games will take place on 23 July until 2 August in 2026, returning to the city 12 years after the previous hosting.

The games will consist of a 10-sport programme spanning across four venues. Normally, the Commonwealth Games programme tends to include 20 core sports as well as para-sports but in the 2026 version, there have been cuts made to help ease the load on the city of Glasgow.

The official programme listing for sports released on 22 October includes Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball.

The games will take place across four venues in Glasgow which include Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).

The sports cut from the games include Hockey, Squash, Rugby Sevens, Cricket, Beach Volleyball, Diving, Badminton, Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Wrestling. The Marathon, Para Marathon and 10k Walk will also not be staged at this edition of the event.

Photo credit – Getty Images, John F Scott.

Squash, Badminton and Table Tennis losing their places in the games means there will be no racquet sports featured.

Keith Russell, CEO of Badminton Scotland, on 24 October, said: “It is very disappointing that we have not been included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games. It is particularly difficult for our players who work incredibly hard and will have been looking forward to competing in a Commonwealth Games which would be a highlight of their careers.

“However, hopefully with CGS and Glasgow hosting the event in 2026, it will secure the event for future editions and our players will be able to look forward to competing in the Commonwealth Games in 2030. We are also looking forward to working with all sports across Scotland to take advantage of the Commonwealth Games being hosted in Glasgow and make a lasting impact for sport in Scotland.”

The previous Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow in 2014 were a success and the hope to build on to that success for a second time is great.

Sports halved as Glasgow host Commonwealth Games