The Commonwealth Games 2026 will bring together thousands of athletes from across the Commonwealth in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026.

As one of the world’s most celebrated multi-sport events, the Games showcase elite sporting talent while promoting unity, diversity, and friendly competition among nations.

Unlike previous editions, Glasgow 2026 features a streamlined program focused on 10 core sports. Despite its smaller scale, the event promises exciting competition, a strong Para-sport presence, and several historic firsts.

The 2026 edition marks Glasgow’s return as host city after successfully staging the Games in 2014.

How many sports are there at the Commonwealth Games 2026?

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature 10 sports: athletics, swimming, 3×3 basketball, artistic gymnastics, boxing, judo, track cycling, netball, weightlifting and bowls.

Para-sport events will be integrated into six of these sports, making it one of the most inclusive editions of the Games.

A total of around 3,000 athletes are expected to compete across 10 days of competition.

Athletics and Para Athletics

Athletics remains the crown jewel of the Commonwealth Games programme and is expected to account for the largest share of medals in Glasgow.

The sport will feature track events such as the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, 5000m, 10,000m, hurdles and relay races, alongside field events including the high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw and javelin throw.

One of the biggest changes for Glasgow 2026 is the return of the historic mile race, which replaces the traditional 1500m event.

The women’s mile will also be contested for the first time in Commonwealth Games history.

Para athletics events will run alongside the able-bodied programme.

Swimming and Para Swimming

Swimming has consistently produced some of the most memorable moments in Commonwealth Games history and Glasgow 2026 will be no different.

The programme includes freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley races across various distances, along with relay events.

New additions to the swimming schedule include the men’s 800m freestyle and women’s 1500m freestyle.

Para swimming competitions will also feature prominently, with athletes competing across multiple classifications and disciplines.

3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball

Introduced in recent editions of the Commonwealth Games, 3×3 basketball has quickly become one of the most popular sports among younger audiences.

Played on a half-court with three players per side, the format is faster and more dynamic than traditional basketball.

The Glasgow Games will feature men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball tournaments as well as men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball competitions.

The shorter format ensures high-intensity matches and frequent scoring opportunities.

Artistic Gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics combines athleticism, flexibility and precision, making it one of the most visually appealing sports on the programme.

Male gymnasts will compete in floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar events, while female gymnasts will contest the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

In addition to apparatus finals, medals will also be awarded in the team and all-around competitions.

Boxing

Boxing has long been a cornerstone of the Commonwealth Games and has often served as a launching pad for future Olympic champions.

The Glasgow 2026 boxing programme will feature multiple men’s and women’s weight categories, ensuring opportunities for athletes across a wide range of divisions.

The sport remains particularly significant for countries such as India, England, Australia and Northern Ireland, all of which have enjoyed considerable success in previous editions.

Judo

Judo will once again form part of the Commonwealth Games combat sports programme.

Athletes will compete in various men’s and women’s weight divisions, with medals awarded in each category.

The sport demands a combination of strength, technique, balance and tactical awareness, making it one of the most challenging disciplines at the Games.

Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling

Track cycling has traditionally delivered some of the fastest and most exciting action at the Commonwealth Games.

Events expected in Glasgow include sprint, keirin, team sprint, individual pursuit, team pursuit, points race, scratch race and omnium competitions.

Para track cycling events will also be integrated into the programme, allowing athletes with disabilities to compete on the same stage as their able-bodied counterparts.

Netball

Netball remains one of the flagship sports of the Commonwealth Games and consistently attracts large audiences.

The women’s tournament will feature leading Commonwealth nations competing in a battle for gold.

Australia, New Zealand and England have historically dominated the sport, but emerging nations continue to narrow the gap, making every edition increasingly competitive.

Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting

Weightlifting has been a major medal contributor for several Commonwealth nations and will once again play a key role in Glasgow.

Athletes will compete across multiple weight categories in the snatch and clean-and-jerk disciplines, with total lifts determining the final standings.

The programme will also include Para powerlifting events, highlighting the strength and skill of para-athletes from across the Commonwealth.

Lawn Bowls and Para Bowls

Lawn Bowls is one of the oldest sports associated with the Commonwealth Games and remains a unique feature of the event.

Competitions will be held in singles, pairs, triples and fours formats for both men and women.

For the first time in Commonwealth Games history, bowls competitions will be played indoors. Para bowls events will also be fully integrated into the medal programme.

Which sports have been dropped from Commonwealth Games 2026?

Several sports that featured at Birmingham 2022 will not return in Glasgow.

These include badminton, hockey, rugby sevens, cricket, squash, table tennis, wrestling, triathlon, beach volleyball, diving, road cycling and mountain biking.

The reduced programme has generated debate among fans and athletes, particularly in countries where these sports have traditionally been strong medal prospects.

Why Glasgow 2026 is different?

The Commonwealth Games 2026 represents a significant shift in the event’s history. Rather than focusing on scale, Glasgow has prioritised sustainability, financial viability and operational efficiency.

Despite featuring fewer sports, the Games will still bring together some of the Commonwealth’s best athletes and will boast the largest integrated Para-sport programme ever seen at a Commonwealth Games.

With athletics, swimming, cycling, boxing, gymnastics and netball headlining the action, Glasgow 2026 promises to deliver world-class competition while setting a new model for the future of multi-sport events.