2026 Commonwealth Games begin in Glasgow with scaled-down event
The 2026 Commonwealth Games have started in Glasgow, featuring a reduced program after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games officially began in Glasgow with an opening ceremony that saw King Charles and Queen Camilla emerge from a replica of Doctor Who's TARDIS. The event, which runs for 10 days, is a scaled-down version of previous Games after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host in 2023, citing spiralling costs. Glasgow stepped in with less than two years to prepare, offering a programme of 10 sports and around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories, compared to 19 sports and 4,800 athletes in Birmingham four years ago.
King Charles, attending his first Commonwealth Games as head of the Commonwealth, officially declared the Games open. The ceremony featured Scottish icons including Sir Chris Hoy, the Loch Ness Monster, and a giant Tunnock's teacake. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister of Scotland John Swinney were also in attendance.
The Games have been described as a "reimagined, smart and sustainable" model by organisers, who hope the reduced cost of around 160 million pounds will make hosting feasible for more nations in the future. However, the build-up has been marked by mixed public opinion in Glasgow. Some residents expressed excitement, while others voiced concerns about the state of the city centre, ongoing road closures, and a lack of proper planning. Businesses near construction sites reported a drop in trade.
Several high-profile athletes withdrew before the Games, including heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who cited injuries or a desire to prioritise other competitions. But Olympic champion Adam Peaty is competing in the 100 metres breaststroke, and Scottish runner Josh Kerr, who recently broke the world mile record, is aiming for gold on home soil.
Para sports have a higher profile than ever, with events integrated into the overall medal table for the first time. The first action got under way with bowls, and the opening ceremony included a parade of athletes from all competing nations.
A political controversy emerged before the Games began. An art installation in Glasgow city centre attached black mourning ribbons to the flags of Commonwealth countries where same-sex relationships are criminalised. Organisers said the Games should have space for a range of conversations but stressed that everyone is welcome.
Despite the challenges, organisers and athletes expressed confidence that the sport would take centre stage once competition began. Sir Chris Hoy, a two-time Commonwealth champion, said negative stories are common before major events but are soon forgotten. The Games are seen as a test case for a leaner, more affordable model that could secure the future of the Commonwealth Games beyond its centenary in 2030.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC NEWS | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow will host a scaled-down Commonwealth Games with 10 sports after Victoria withdrew. | · | |||||
| The opening ceremony is taking place at the Hydro with the king and queen in attendance. | · | · | ||||
| Andy Burnham will attend the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow and discuss good growth in every postcode. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Athletes Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith have pulled out of the games. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Bowling is included in the scaled-down programme. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Scottish runner Josh Kerr broke the world record in the men's mile shortly before the games. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Tickets for the games are still available. | · | · | · | · | ||
| 3x3 basketball is included in the Games. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Andy Burnham discussed cutting business rates as part of his election campaign. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Andy Burnham plans to travel around the country during the summer to inspect factories for further investment. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Black mourning ribbons are being attached to the flags of competing countries where same-sex relationships are criminalised. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Eight competitors from the West Country are taking part in the Commonwealth Games. | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided extensive on-the-ground reporting from Glasgow, focusing on the city's readiness and mixed public sentiment. The coverage balanced excitement from athletes and volunteers with concerns from local businesses and residents about disruption and the state of the city centre. It also highlighted the late withdrawal of some star athletes.
- “Is Glasgow ready for the Commonwealth Games? I hope so. But with the lack of, what can I say, proper planning, proper leadership, I don't think it will be ready.”
- “Glasgow is an incredibly experienced major event city, and when we needed someone to step in and host the Games, there was no other place in the Commonwealth that could do this.”
BBC One West's coverage focused on the opening ceremony and the logistical challenges of hosting a scaled-down Games. It included reports on the TARDIS entrance, the King's speech, and the reduced number of sports. The tone was factual, noting both the pride in Glasgow stepping in and the difficulties of the short preparation time.
- “How's this for an entrance? Doctor Who's TARDIS, revealing first Sir Chris Hoy, and then, well, look who it is. The king and queen arriving in unconventional style, as Glasgow offered the warmest of welcomes.”
- “What Glasgow has started to do is create a Games that not only fits the model here but allows other nations who have never thought of hosting Commonwealth Games before to think we can do that.”
ITV News emphasised the human stories of Team England athletes, particularly those from the West Country, and the financial model that could save the Games. The coverage was upbeat, focusing on athlete excitement and the cost reduction as a positive development. It also highlighted the opening ceremony's spectacle.
- “This Games for me is probably about redemption. The last Games I came really close. I got a fifth and it really hurt especially doing it in front of a home crowd.”
- “We knew that we needed to take the cost out of the games. It needed to be affordable. Not everyone can spend 800 million pounds on an event, so bringing it down by 60 percent, this is a game that's costing 160 million pounds.”
BBC Two's Newsnight only briefly mentioned the Commonwealth Games as a backdrop to a political discussion about Andy Burnham's economic plans. The coverage was not about the Games themselves but used the event as a location for a political story. No detailed reporting on the sporting event.
- “and Mr Burnham is off to Glasgow for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games tomorrow.”
Channel 5's coverage was promotional and athlete-focused, featuring an interview with broadcaster Ade Adepitan. The tone was enthusiastic, highlighting the excitement of the Games, the inclusion of para sports, and the availability of tickets. It aimed to build public interest.
- “I think we're going to see an exciting games, you know, and look this would be my first Commonwealth Games But it won't be my first multi-event games, you know, I've been to many Paralympics and many Olympics and I've been here for two days and the vibe is incredible”
- “the fact that we're just talking about it now saying there are tickets out There and available come on get out there get online come to Scotland come to Glasgow I'll take a selfie with you and enjoy the sport.”
Channel 4 News provided a critical and in-depth look at the Games, covering both the sporting aspects and a political controversy over an art installation highlighting LGBTQ+ rights in Commonwealth countries. The report included an interview with Josh Kerr and questioned the future of the Games, balancing optimism with scepticism.
- “You can see here that black mourning ribbons are being attached to the flags of competing countries where same-sex relationships are criminalised. In some, that means the death penalty.”
- “I would say hold your opinions until after the championships and then make your opinions on it. It's very easy and lazy for someone to say, this is a championship that no-one wanted or it's moved a couple of times, it's a dying championship.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.