When the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games in 2023, citing cost concerns, the future of the mega multisport event was thrown into jeopardy – until Scotland and Glasgow intervened to keep it alive.

“The reason there was no host, frankly, was because the Games had become unaffordable,” said Ian Reid, Chair of Commonwealth Sport Scotland.

When considering stepping in to host the Games, the challenge – and opportunity – was to create a feasible model of delivery, he said, speaking at an exclusive event at Edinburgh Castle on 29 January 2026 to celebrate Scotland’s hosting of the Games.

“We thought not just about bring the Games to Scotland, but can we leave a legacy for Commonwealth Sport in terms of how the Games are delivered.”

“The world needs more partnership”
The Commonwealth Games in 2026 will feature an electrifying, but reduced, programme of sports events with participants from 74 nations and territories.

“Glasgow 2026 will be a different Games in terms of what we experienced in 2014, a revised and a developed model to make it sustainable for the future,” said John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland.

“It is about respecting what has come before and embracing the excitement of what lies ahead… but above all else, cherishing what is strong about the Commonwealth, which is friendship, partnership and shared ambition.

“The world needs an awful lot more partnership and cooperation at this moment, so let Glasgow be the focal point for so much of that in the course of this summer.”

For Commonwealth Sport, the rightsholder of the event, Scotland has not just saved the day but the future of the movement.

“We're deeply grateful because what Glasgow is delivering is not simply a plan for 2026; it's a signal for the Commonwealth, a signal that the Games can be reimagined, more flexible, more sustainable and more inclusive, without losing the ambition and meaning of the Games,” said Helen Phillips MBE, Vice President of Commonwealth Sport.

“And thanks to everybody's efforts, we now have a real momentum across the Commonwealth Sport movement, with Malta hosting the 2027 Youth Games, the city of Ahmedabad in India hosting our Centenary Games in 2030. And beyond that, there's an incredible strong interest emerging for 2034 and 2038 and other Youth Games.”

“On track to deliver”
Despite having to organise the Games in such a compressed timeframe – less than two years – the project remains on schedule.

“I am pleased to say we remain on track to deliver these Games on time and within the overall budget,” said George Black, Chair of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Company.

“But we're now 175 days to go, and the pace has picked up, and it needs to. We need to ensure the athlete and spectator experience are positive and be reassured that transport plans are robust and that C3 contingency arrangements proportionate.”

The success of the event delivery is very much a team effort, and there are still opportunities to play a part in making it a success.

“We are open arms to anyone who wants to help us make this event altogether brilliant,” said Phil Batty, CEO of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Company.

“Major events have a magical power to bring people together,” he said. “And the idea that we're going to have over the course of 11 days, one of those moments where you see smiles, you see joy, you see energy and you see electricity created by the act that one single athlete can do on the field of play is just phenomenal. It's exactly what we need right now.”

“We want to be trailblazers”
“The most important thing is that we have an event for our athletes,” said Reid. “The main reason we did this at Commonwealth Games Scotland is because we know how much it means to them.”

“Glasgow standing up and being brave matches the Scottish culture and how we play as athletes: we want to be trailblazers,” said netballer Emily Nichol.

Glasgow 2026 will have the largest parasport programme in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

“Growing up I was very inspired through Ellie Simmonds,” said Para powerlifter Finlay Davidson. “To feel like I'm slowly reaching that level, and now inspiring another generation, is just amazing.”