Glasgow opens the 2026 Commonwealth Games on 23 July, stepping in to host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out at short notice, citing rising costs. It is the 23rd edition of the Games, running through 2 August, and only the third time a city has hosted twice. Glasgow last held the event in 2014.

This is a far smaller affair. Ten sports across four venues, with more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories — compared with 17 sports and 1.5 million tickets in 2014. This time, around 500,000 tickets are on sale, and the majority of events were still unsold the day before the opening ceremony. Rugby, hockey, and cricket have been cut from the programme entirely. The budget is £150 million, less than a third of the £550 million spent in 2014 and well below the £780 million cost of the 2022 Birmingham Games. (The Guardian; Reuters)

The rescue deal came together in September 2024, when the Scottish government agreed to step in after Victoria's withdrawal. Victoria had already spent A$589 million (£300 million) before walking away, and paid the Commonwealth Games Federation $380 million in compensation — money that helped make Glasgow's leaner model possible. (The Guardian; AFR)

For fans in Britain, there is a jarring change. For the first time since 1954, the BBC is not broadcasting any Commonwealth Games events. The rights went to Warner Bros Discovery, with TNT Sports having outbid the BBC. Channel 5 was set to carry the opening ceremony and some highlights. (The Guardian)

The build-up has been anything but smooth. A dramatic fire brought a large part of central Glasgow, including Glasgow Central station, to a standstill in the days before the Games. Merchandise sales were slow — one stall worker reported zero sales across the first two days. Glasgow City Council launched a "Get Set Hub" webpage with practical information for residents and businesses, and drafted a temporary exemption policy for short-term lets during the Games period.

What makes this stand out is the experiment itself. Glasgow 2026 is a deliberate test of whether a stripped-down Commonwealth Games — fewer sports, fewer venues, fewer tickets — can survive on a fraction of the previous budget. The Games feature the largest integrated Para sport programme in Commonwealth Games history, with six para sports on the schedule, and athletics, swimming, and artistic gymnastics among the headline events. (Commonwealth Sport; Reuters)

For 21-year-old Joshua Lamb, a law student at the University of Glasgow, there is a personal thread. He attended the 2014 Games as a child, watching the swimming. Now the Games are back in his city, smaller and cheaper, with empty seats still to fill and a new broadcaster.

The opening ceremony will reunite all 74 batons from the King's Baton Relay — one for each participating country — at a single venue. The Scotland baton will be presented to King Charles III, who will read his message aloud to the Commonwealth. (Commonwealth Sport)

Glasgow did this in 2014 with a £550 million budget and a full programme. The question in 2026 is whether £150 million and ten sports are enough to keep the Games alive.