The Commonwealth Games are back for another edition, as the some of the world’s top athletes converge on Glasgow.
For those unaware, it is a multi-sport, Olympic-style event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations - the vast majority being former territories of the old British empire.
Like the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games happen every four years, with the last being held in Birmingham in 2022.
This time around, they take place in Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland, with 74 teams taking part in the fourth Games to be held in Scotland.
It will be the first Commonwealth Games since Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, and the first with Ugandan Donald Rukare at the helm of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
When is the Commonwealth Games 2026?
This year’s event begins on Thursday, July 23, with the opening ceremony at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
It will span a week and a half, closing on Sunday, August 2.
When is the Commonwealth Games 2026 opening ceremony?
The ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 23, and it will be the first Commonwealth Games opening ceremony to be held entirely indoors.
Scottish singer KT Tunstall will headline the show, while other Scottish artists such as Callum Beattie, Nina Nesbitt and Nathan Evans will also feature.
The Royal Family will be in attendance, while the Red Arrows will perform a flyover.
Which countries are competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
There will be 74 nations all taking part in this year’s Games.
Unlike the Olympics and other major sporting events, there is no ‘Team GB’.
Instead, all the different islands making up the Great Britain - England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland - will field their own separate teams.
Gabon and Togo are making their debut at the Games after joining the Commonwealth in 2022.
Other notable nations to look out for are Australia, Canada, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.
Is Josh Kerr competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Yes, fresh off smashing the mile world record at the recent London Diamond League meeting, Kerr will be representing the host nation at this year’s Games.
The 1500m runner, who is an Olympic silver and bronze medallist, ran a time of 3:42.66 for the mile last week, and he will be competing at the distance again, looking to claim a maiden Commonwealth title.
Is Keely Hodgkinson competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
No, Hodgkinson is one of the most high-profile omissions from the England squad at this Games.
The 800m runner ruled herself out of this year’s event after pulling out of the UK Athletics Championships last month with “a little twinge”, and instead, she will turn her focus to the European Championships, which take place in Birmingham in August.
She has raced since then, winning the 800m at the recent Diamond League meet at the Olympic Stadium in London, but she will not be competing here.
Is Adam Peaty competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Yes, moving into the pool, swimmer Peaty will be looking to conquer the field in Glasgow.
He already boasts four gold medals and three silvers at the Commonwealth Games, and he will be looking to add to that tally in both the 50m and the 100m breaststroke.
He may also be called upon in the 4x100m medley relay, where he has also previously triumphed.
Which other Brits are competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Scotland boast a star-studded lineup for their home Games, headed up by Kerr.
He will be joined by Jake Wightman, the world champion over 1500m in 2022, on the start line for the mile, while Andrew Butchart will take on the long-distance races - the 5000m and 10000m. Butchart holds the parkrun world record, which he broke in 2023 as he posted a time of 13:45 for five kilometres at Edinburgh parkrun.
Jemma Reekie, Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan are the standout middle and long-distance female athletes, while judoka Sarah Adlington is looking to defend her Commonwealth title in the +78kg weight class.
Eight-time Olympic medallist Duncan Scott is the hosts’ biggest hope in the pool.
For England, Louie Hinchcliffe and Zharnel Hughes race the men’s 100m and 200m respectively, with the latter looking to go one better than his silver medal four years ago.
World 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt takes on the 100m on the women’s side, while 1500m Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter-Bell drops down to the 800m in Hodgkinson’s absence.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has won the last two Commonwealth heptathlons, and is hoping for a three-peat in Glasgow.
Jamal Petgrave looks to defend his title in the +90kg judo, while James Guy, Tom Dean and Luke Greenback are also medal hopes in the pool along with Peaty.
Swimmer Daniel Wiffen is the leading light in the Northern Irish team, while European bronze medallist Jeremiah Azu contests the 100m for Wales.
Emma Finucane is the star in the velodrome for the Welsh, and Matt Richards will also compete in the pool for them in the 100m and 200m freestyle.
