Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 Schedule, Tickets & How to Watch
Right, so the Commonwealth Games are actually happening. After all the will-they-won’t-they drama, Glasgow stepped in, the deal got done, and now we’re less than four months out from the biggest sporting event this city’s hosted since 2014. Here’s everything you need to know about the schedule, how to get tickets, and where to watch it all.
The Schedule: 23 July to 2 August 2026
Ten days. 133 sessions. Over 50 medal sessions spread across some of the best sporting venues in Scotland. Competition runs from 23 July through to 2 August, with the opening ceremony kicking things off and a closing ceremony wrapping it all up.
It’s a tighter programme than 2014. There’s no getting around that. But what’s here is proper, and having everything packed into indoor venues across the city means you can genuinely hop between sports in a single day if you plan it right.
The full detailed schedule is available on the official Glasgow 2026 schedule page, but here’s your sport-by-sport breakdown.
Sport-by-Sport Breakdown
Athletics: 43 Medal Events
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium
The big one. Track and field is always the headline act at the Commonwealths, and with 43 medal events it’s the single biggest programme in the Games. Scotstoun’s been used for athletics before and it’s a cracking venue. Compact, close to the action, and easy enough to get to from the city centre. Expect morning sessions for heats and qualifications, with evening sessions for the finals.
Swimming: 42 Medal Events
Venue: Tollcross International Swimming Centre
Another monster programme. Tollcross did the job brilliantly in 2014 and it’s back again. If you’ve never been to a live swimming session at a major Games, honestly, get yourself a ticket. The atmosphere in that pool is something else. Morning heats, evening finals. The usual setup.
Track Cycling: 18 Medal Events
Venue: Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome
Named after the man himself, and still one of the finest velodromes in the world. Track cycling is always a belter to watch live. The speed, the noise, the tactical racing. 18 medal events across the programme. The velodrome’s right next to the Emirates Arena in the East End, so if you’re heading that way you might as well make a day of it.
Weightlifting: 16 Medal Events
Venue: SEC Armadillo
Sixteen medal events in the Armadillo. Weightlifting doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but at a live Games it’s genuinely brilliant. Pure theatre. The Armadillo’s a quality venue for it too, big enough to create an atmosphere but intimate enough that you’re right on top of the action.
Gymnastics: 14 Medal Events
Venue: Commonwealth Arena (Emirates Arena)
The Emirates Arena (or Commonwealth Arena as it’ll be branded) hosts gymnastics with 14 medal events covering artistic and rhythmic disciplines. This was a 2014 legacy venue and it’s been well used since. Great sightlines from pretty much every seat.
Boxing: 14 Medal Events
Venue: SEC Centre
Boxing and the Commonwealth Games go together like Glasgow and rain. 14 medal events at the SEC Centre. Scotland’s always been strong in the ring at the Commonwealths, so expect a decent home crowd behind the Scottish fighters. Could be some brilliant nights in there.
Judo: 14 Medal Events
Venue: SEC Centre
Sharing the SEC Centre with boxing, judo brings 14 medal events to the programme. Fast, technical, and surprisingly easy to follow once you get the hang of what you’re watching. Sessions tend to run through the day with finals in the evening.
Bowls: 7 Medal Events
Venue: SEC Centre
Indoor bowls at the SEC Centre, 7 medal events. Before you laugh, bowls at the Commonwealths is always a proper watch. Scotland are competitive in this, the crowds get into it, and the ticket prices are among the cheapest at the Games. Don’t sleep on it.
3×3 Basketball: 4 Medal Events
Venue: SEC Centre
The newer format. Three-a-side, half court, ten-minute games. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it’s been a hit everywhere it’s been introduced. Four medal events (men’s and women’s individual competitions plus mixed). Another one at the SEC Centre, which is basically going to be a sporting village in its own right during the Games.
Netball: 1 Medal Event
Venue: OVO Hydro
The gold medal match gets the biggest venue in the city. Netball’s always one of the best-attended sports at the Commonwealths, and putting the final in the Hydro (which holds around 14,000) should make for an unreal atmosphere. Expect a packed house.
What’s NOT in the Programme
Worth being upfront about this: the Glasgow 2026 programme is slimmed down compared to what you might be used to. There’s no cricket, no hockey, no rugby sevens, no road cycling, no diving, and no triathlon. Some of those were always going to be tricky given the compressed timeline Glasgow had to work with, and the decision to keep everything in existing indoor venues meant outdoor sports were largely off the table.
It’s a smaller Games, aye. But there’s still over 50 medal sessions across 10 sports, which is plenty to fill 10 days. And keeping it tight means the quality of what’s here should be top-notch.
Tickets: On Sale Now
Tickets are on sale through the official ticket portal. Here’s the pricing:
- £17 for non-medal sessions
- £27 for medal sessions
- £12 for concessions
There are 500,000 tickets available in total across the Games. Compared to what you’d pay for a football match or a concert at the Hydro, those prices are genuinely reasonable, especially for medal sessions where you’re watching athletes compete for Commonwealth gold.
If you’re planning to go to multiple sessions, get in early. Swimming and athletics will sell fastest, and the netball final at the Hydro will probably go quick too. Bowls and weightlifting tend to have more availability if you’re looking for a Games experience without the scramble.
How to Watch: TNT Sports & HBO Max
Here’s the big change. TNT Sports has exclusive live coverage of Glasgow 2026, with over 600 hours of broadcasting planned. If you want to watch the Games live on telly, you’ll need a TNT Sports subscription.
HBO Max will handle the streaming side, so you can watch on your phone, laptop, or tablet too.
Now, the elephant in the room: this ends 72 years of BBC coverage of the Commonwealth Games. The BBC has broadcast every Commonwealth Games since 1954, and for a lot of folk that’s just what the Commonwealths are. Hazel Irvine, Michael Johnson, that familiar BBC presentation. That’s gone. There’s been a fair bit of grumbling about it, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel like something’s been lost there.
A free-to-air highlights deal is still being finalised, so there should be some coverage available without a subscription, but don’t expect the same wall-to-wall BBC treatment we’ve had in the past. If you want to watch properly, TNT Sports is where it’s at.
Opening & Closing Ceremonies
The opening ceremony is on 23 July at the OVO Hydro. The creative team has been named, and there’ll be a cast of around 700 volunteers bringing it to life. If 2014’s opening ceremony is anything to go by (giant Tunnock’s teacakes, Scottie dogs, and John Barrowman), expect something bold, distinctly Scottish, and probably a wee bit daft in the best way.
The closing ceremony is on 2 August, with the venue still to be confirmed. It’ll include the traditional handover to the next host city, Ahmedabad, India, who take on the 2030 Games.
Getting the Most Out of It
A few tips from someone who was at the 2014 Games:
- Buy tickets for sports you wouldn’t normally watch. The Commonwealths is the perfect chance to try something new. Judo, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball. You might surprise yourself.
- Evening medal sessions are where the atmosphere peaks. If you can only go once, make it a finals night.
- The SEC campus hosts boxing, judo, bowls, 3×3 basketball and weightlifting. You could genuinely spend an entire day there bouncing between venues.
- Public transport is your friend. Don’t drive to the venues if you can avoid it. More on parking and transport in our road closures and LEZ guide.
- Book accommodation early. Glasgow hotels will fill up, especially during the first and last weekends.
The full schedule with exact session times is on glasgow2026.com/schedule/overview. Keep an eye on it. Session times can shift as we get closer to the Games.
Glasgow did it brilliantly in 2014. There’s every reason to think it’ll do it again.
