Event Should Return to Glasgow in 2026
The Scottish Government has today written to Commonwealth Games Scotland to inform them that the Scottish Government will give its support for the proposal.
It follows a thorough assessment of plans for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, conducted alongside Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Commonwealth Games Federation, Glasgow City Council, the UK Government and, most recently, Commonwealth Games Australia.
That highly positive and productive collaboration and has resulted in the finalisation of a strong event proposal – one that will help to support a new future for the Commonwealth Games and deliver economic and sporting opportunity for Scotland.
Scotland, and in particular Glasgow has built a track record of successful event delivery, including being the first to host newly modelled events such as the multi-city European Championships in 2018 and the more recent UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023. It is because Glasgow is a world class events destination, with the facilities and expertise required to deliver an event such as the Commonwealth Games, that this has been able to proceed.
The proposal will also ensure we retain the Commonwealth Games’s significant importance for Scottish sport. The Games allows our athletes to compete under their national flag, marks the pinnacle of sport for some Scottish Sports Governing Bodies and is a key influence in how Scottish performance funding is distributed.
Glasgow 2014 provided a catalyst for success for many Scottish athletes, including those who won medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; 25 of the 34 Scots on Team GB have competed for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, including six of the nine medallists. This reimagined model will help to inform future Games and enable the Commonwealth Games Federation to encourage hosts for 2030 and beyond.
I am delighted that agreement has now been reached for Scotland to once again host the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
GRAEME
I have no doubt that Glasgow can deliver a world-class event which will reimagine the Games for generations to come.
Moreover, this would bring economic benefit to businesses in Glasgow and across Scotland with no cost to the Scottish Government.
The leadership shown by Commonwealth Games Scotland in developing this proposal and getting us to this point has been much appreciated, and I really hope that in two years time we will be celebrating so many more wonderful sporting success stories.
The Commonwealth Games Scotland Board will now make a formal decision on whether to proceed.
If it decides to proceed, it will seek approval to host from the Commonwealth Games Federation and undertake final work with partners to ratify an agreement for Scotland to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation will make further announcements in due course.
Funding arrangements
No public funding is required from the Scottish Government for the delivery of the event and the Scottish Government will not provide any financial underwriting. This has been clearly communicated to Commonwealth Games Scotland and will be included in the final legal documentation.
The Commonwealth Games Federation will cover the majority of costs using money secured in a compensation negotiation with the Victorian Government following their withdrawal as hosts in July 2023. The Commonwealth Games Federation have provided a further £20m of funding to support delivery of the event and required contingency: this includes a £5 million investment for Glasgow City Council to utilise for capital upgrades and a cultural programme.
The UK Government has agreed to provide a ringfenced contingency funding of up to £2.3m that can be accessed if existing budget funds and contingency have been exceeded and all efforts to reduce costs have been exhausted.
An additional multi million pound investment has also now been accepted to support the Games to take place. The final quantum of investment and the balance of direct funding and contingency provision will be finalised shortly but Commonwealth Games Australia have indicated flexibility in their approach.
The additional amount of funding and investment agreed since negotiations began is in excess of £24 million. That funding will be supplemented by commercial income from ticketing, sponsorship, hospitality and merchandising.
