The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will bring one of the world’s biggest multi-sport events back to Scotland, with athletes from across the Commonwealth competing in a packed programme of sport and entertainment.
Originally facing uncertainty after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host due to rising costs, Glasgow stepped in to save the event and will now host a streamlined but highly anticipated version of the Games.
For UK viewers, the 2026 Commonwealth Games will also mark a major change in television coverage. For the first time in more than 70 years, the BBC will not be the main broadcaster. Instead, TNT Sports will provide full live coverage, while Channel 5 will show free-to-air daily highlights.
When Are the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games?
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place from 23 July to 2 August 2026.
The event will run across 10 days, featuring thousands of athletes from nations and territories across the Commonwealth.
Where Are the Games Being Held?
The Games will be hosted across several venues in and around Glasgow, Scotland, making use of many facilities previously used during the successful Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Expected venues include:
- Scotstoun Stadium
- Emirates Arena
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre
- Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome
- SECC and OVO Hydro
- Hampden Park
The compact nature of Glasgow makes it one of the most accessible host cities for spectators and broadcasters alike.
What Sports Will Feature?
Due to the revised and lower-cost format, the Glasgow 2026 Games will feature fewer sports than previous editions, but will still include many of the most popular Commonwealth events.
Expected sports include:
- Athletics
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Gymnastics
- Boxing
- Netball
- Weightlifting
- Judo
- Bowls
- Track Cycling
Athletics and swimming are once again expected to attract the largest television audiences.
How to Watch the Commonwealth Games in the UK
TNT Sports
TNT Sports has secured the exclusive live broadcasting rights for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Subscribers will be able to watch:
- Full live coverage
- Multiple live event streams
- Daily analysis and highlights
- Coverage across TNT Sports channels and discovery+
TNT Sports is expected to provide more than 600 hours of coverage during the Games.
Channel 5
Channel 5 will provide free-to-air highlights coverage each day.
This means viewers without a TNT Sports subscription will still be able to watch:
- Daily highlights programmes
- Key medal moments
- Major athletics finals
- Team GB and home nations performances
The agreement ensures the Games maintain a free-to-air presence in the UK.
End of the BBC Era
The 2026 Games will end the BBC’s long-standing relationship with the Commonwealth Games, which dates back to 1954.
For decades, viewers associated the event with BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer coverage. However, increasing competition for sports rights and budget pressures have changed the UK broadcasting landscape significantly.
The move reflects the growing dominance of subscription broadcasters in major sporting events.
Why Glasgow 2026 Matters
Despite a reduced format, Glasgow 2026 remains hugely important for Commonwealth sport.
The Games offer athletes a major international stage between Olympic cycles and continue to showcase sports that often receive less mainstream television coverage outside major tournaments.
For Scotland, the event is also an opportunity to once again demonstrate its ability to host world-class sporting events after the success of Glasgow 2014.
Glasgow 2026 Could Shape Future Sports Broadcasting
The combination of TNT Sports live coverage and Channel 5 highlights may become a model for future sporting events in the UK.
Premium subscription broadcasters increasingly secure exclusive live rights, while free-to-air channels focus on highlights and key moments.
For viewers, this creates more viewing options but also continues the debate over whether major sporting events should remain fully available on free television.