Swimming and para-swimming included at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Swimming and para-swimming have been included in the 10 sports at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The 23rd edition of the Games will take place in Scotland from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026.

Glasgow stepped in to host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out and the competition returns to the city 12 years after the hugely successful 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Around 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth nations will be competing at the Games with the swimming and para-swimming events taking place at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

While swimming and para-swimming are included as mandatory sports, there is no room for diving, artistic swimming or water polo at the 2026 Games.

At Birmingham 2022, Team England’s divers won a total of 15 medals – six gold, four silver and five bronze.

Andy Salmon, Swim England chief executive, said today’s announcement was a mixture of delight and disappointment.

He said: “It’s fantastic to see that Glasgow has stepped in to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games when there has been so much uncertainty at whether the event would go ahead at all.

“Team England have won almost 400 swimming and para-swimming medals in the history of the Commonwealth Games with 32 of those podium places at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games alone. 

“The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games was the setting for Adam Peaty winning his first major medal and the competition has helped inspire so many people to get active in the water. 

Real shame

“Despite those wonderful memories and successes for our swimmers and para-swimmers, it’s particularly disappointing that diving, artistic swimming and water polo haven’t been included among the 10 sports that are being staged as part of the Games.

“Our divers had an incredibly successful competition in Birmingham two years ago and also enjoyed an historic Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

“The success of Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe in Paris has also helped to raise the profile of artistic swimming and our water polo teams continue to produce improved performances around the world.

“So it’s a real shame these aquatic sports have missed out on being included in the schedule and our athletes are not going to have the opportunity to represent their country at such a prestigious event.

“We will continue to support their development and look forward to seeing our swimmers and para-swimmers in action at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in two years’ time.”

Around 500,000 tickets will be made available for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at a future date.

John Steele OBE, Commonwealth Games England chair, added: “We welcome the news that Glasgow has been formally confirmed as the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and we are fully supportive of our Scottish Commonwealth partners in this new-look concept for the Commonwealth Games. 

“Glasgow was a tremendous host in 2014 and we have many memories from our medal table topping performance there.

“While this announcement is rightly a cause for celebration, we also acknowledge there will be disappointment for some sports and athletes who have not be included in the Games schedule for Glasgow 2026. 

“They are part of the Team England family and we will support their future plans as much as we can.”