Sports announced for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Track cycling and boxing are among the events that will be included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, it has been revealed.

A stripped-back programme of 10 sports, announced on Tuesday, also includes athletics and swimming as mandatory – but badminton and hockey have been dropped.

The games, last held in Glasgow in 2014 at a cost of over £540m, will be held across across four venues between 23 July and 2 August 2026.

Glasgow stepped in to host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out due to rising costs.

A total of 3,000 of athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories are expected to compete at the 2026 games.

The event will also feature “fully integrated para competitions” across six of the selected sports.

Katie Sadleir, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said: “The games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience more accessible than ever before.”

First Minister John Swinney said the event is an exciting opportunity for the people of Scotland.

He said: “While Glasgow 2026 will look quite different to previous games, we can, and we must, use this as an opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure that this new concept brings a strong and sustainable future for the games.”

The CGF said the a number of factors, including “universality of participation and quality of competition” as well as local appeal were considered when deciding what sports to include.

The last time the games were in Glasgow, 17 sports were contested – this time the Games will feature 10 sports:

• Athletics and para athletics (track and field only)
• Swimming and para swimming
• Artistic gymnastics
• Track cycling and para track cycling
• Netball
• Weightlifting and para powerlifting
• Boxing
• Judo
• Bowls and para bowls
• 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball

Organisers said they understand that fans and athletes of sports not included will be “incredibly disappointed” but that these games will not influence future inclusion.

Some sports such as cycling and gymnastics have had their disciplines slimmed down.

The cycling programme for Glasgow 2014 included mountain biking and road races but this time athletes will only compete on the track.

In gymnastics, there is no room for any rhythmic events, with only artistic gymnastics being included.

There will also be no diving competitions.

Hockey has been dropped from the programme despite a national hockey centre being built for the last Glasgow games.

There will be no road-based events such as the triathlon or marathon on the programme – these were previously free for spectators to attend in 2014.

Rugby sevens, which was previously hosted at Ibrox Stadium is also out and there will be no racquet sports at all.

The event will feature an opening and closing ceremony and there will be some form of King’s baton relay ahead of the games.

An estimated 500,000 tickets will go on sale for the various events, with the games expected to be worth £150m to Glasgow.

The CGF confirmed putting on the games is expected to cost approximately £114m.

It will pay £100m towards the bill, with £2.3m coming from Commonwealth Games Australia – who pulled out of hosting the event – as well as £2.3m from the UK government.

The balance will come from commercial revenue such as ticket sales, broadcast rights, commercial sponsorship and merchandise.

The four venues which will be used during the event will be the Emirates Arena, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, the Scottish Events Campus and Scotstoun stadium.

Organisers said these venues were “operationally viable and economically valuable”.

They confirmed that Scotstoun will only host the athletics, while the Scottish Event Campus and Emirates Arena will host multiple sports.

It has not been decided exactly which sports will take place in which venues.

No additional venues will be built to keep costs low, but some upgrades such as temporary seating will be made at the four venues.

Athletes and officials will stay in “existing accommodation across the city”.

Analysis by Chris McLaughlin, BBC Scotland sports news correspondent

Organisers have spent the last few weeks in talks with sporting bodies and delivering the news to some that they must sit this one out.

It’ll be a bitter blow to some and a surprise to others.

Badminton and hockey could feel particularly aggrieved, given the profile of both sports on the Commonwealth stage, but it’s an indication of the hard decisions that have been taken, and those to come.

The biggest crowd pleasers remain and, in general, there is a plan but by usual standards, it is still a very rough one.

The big pitch that eventually convinced a sceptical Scottish government, and an even more sceptical Glasgow City Council to get on board, now has to be made to fill the key posts that will drive Glasgow 2026 over the line.

Only those used to working to very tight deadlines and even tighter budgets, need apply.

The official rubber stamping and announcement of the sport programme is a big milestone and the first look at what people can expect from this new look event.

Can it really be a blueprint for the future of this troubled event?

The reputation of the city as a host city for elite sporting spectacles and the very future of the Commonwealth Games is at stake.