The Victorian government has unveiled the full sports program for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and announced a new host city.
The program will feature 20 sports across 26 disciplines and nine fully integrated para-sports.
"It's going to not just showcase a great diversity of sport participation, but also showcase the different parts of regional Victoria," Commonwealth Games Delivery Minister Jacinta Allan said.
The expanded program has seen the inclusion of 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball, mountain bike cross-country, track cycling, track para-cycling, and shooting.
Three sports will make their Commonwealth Games debut in 2026, including coastal rowing, golf, and BMX racing.
Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin said it was an exciting line-up.
"I am quite sure when the athletes around the Commonwealth heard this announcement – what was going to happen and the sports that were in – they [were all] absolutely jumping up and down with this."
Shepparton named as host city
The state government also announced that Shepparton as a host city for the Games.
The city will host the time trials for the road race and the BMX racing competition.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Shane Sali said it was a massive announcement for the city and it was grateful to be able to play a part in the games.
"We've proved well and truly in the past that we can host international events — we've got world-class facilities, so there's no problem whatsoever that we'll be able to deliver," he said.
The council and community have been campaigning to play a hosting role in the 2026 games after the city was behind the initial push in 2017 to launch a bid for the event.
Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said a lot of hard work had gone on behind the scenes to make this happen.
"We'll be able to turn this into something amazing and build on it — we just needed to get inside the door," she said.
Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips praised the BMX facilities in Shepparton and said today was a big day for sports that would be included for the first time.
"A whole new generation of athletes will get to come and live a Commonwealth Games dream that may not have been available to them before," he said.
