Glasgow on track to host £200m Commonwealth Games in 2026
Glasgow is powering ahead in the race to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games, The Sunday Post can reveal – days before the venue is officially announced.
Sources in the sporting community say there is “growing confidence” that Scotland’s biggest city can deliver a world-class event.
They believe organisers are likely to recognise Glasgow as the best option for rescuing the troubled contest, thanks to the legacy of hosting the Games 10 years ago.
The 23rd Commonwealth Games were scheduled for Victoria in 2026, but last summer the Australian state suddenly pulled out.
When other potential hosts ruled themselves out, including Singapore, Malaysia and Australia’s Gold Coast, fears were raised that the Games might be cancelled for the first time since the Second World War.
Commonwealth Games Scotland last month proposed Glasgow as a venue for a scaled-back event with fewer sports.
The Commonwealth Games Federation, which runs the Games, is weighing up potential venues, with a final announcement later this month.
The Federation has pledged £100 million for the chosen host, with the remaining budget funded by tickets and broadcasting rights.
The biggest difficulty with hosting the 2026 Games is the limited time. Ordinarily, a host would spend six years planning – but now there are only two years to prepare.
After 2014, Glasgow already has the Commonwealth Arena for indoor athletics, the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome for track cycling, Tollcross Pool for swimming and mountain-bike tracks in Cathkin Braes. In 2014, Hampden was used for track and field, while Ibrox hosted rugby and Celtic Park staged the opening ceremony.
Since then, Glasgow has staged a string of international sporting events, including the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Sources believe the legacy of 2014 could prove a key factor in the Federation’s decision. One said: “There’s growing confidence Glasgow could deliver a world-class event – which is a great legacy of the 2014 Games. I’d be surprised if the Federation doesn’t regard the Scottish proposal as the option of lowest risk.” It is understood that the Games programme would be cut to between 10 and 13 events – it was 18 when Glasgow last hosted the Games.
A spokesperson for Commonwealth Games Scotland said the proposal would generate £200m for the economy without requiring significant investment from the public purse. They added: “If the Games does return to Glasgow in 2026, we are confident we will once again prove to be the perfect host.”