Bids for the 2026 Commonwealth Games

An extensive bidding process for the 2026 Commonwealth Games began in 2018 and concluded in 2022 with the state of Victoria, Australia, being announced as the host. Originally, the host city was to be revealed in 2019 in Rwanda, but this was cancelled due to a lack of interest. Victoria's bid was confirmed by Dame Louise Martin, head of the Commonwealth Games Federation. However, after Victoria withdrew as host in July 2023, citing the unwillingness to spend A$7 billion on a 12-day event, a second selection process was initiated. This culminated in Glasgow being chosen as the new host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Second selection

On 18 July 2023, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan announced the state government intended to cancel the 2026 Victorian Games. Fifteen months after agreeing to host the Games, the Premier said the cost had escalated to an estimated 6–7 billion, double the estimated economic benefits for the state, and the government could not justify the expense. The state said it would terminate its host agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation and seek a settlement of the contract. The withdrawal prompted a new search for a host for the 2026 Games.
Following the cancellation of Victoria in hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, other countries explored the possibility of hosting the games in place of Victoria.

Explored bids

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Cancelled potential bids

Europe

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Asia

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Oceania

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First selection

Bidding calendar

During the CGF General Assembly on 31 March 2017 in Gold Coast, after the troubled 2022 Commonwealth Games host city bid process, the executive board announced that it had planned to award both 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games simultaneously at the CGF General Assembly scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda in September 2019. A new model called CGF Partnerships was implemented. This aims to give stronger support to the associations and cities that show interests in hosting future Games, and enhance the overall value of the event. This is similar to the process used by the International Olympic Committee since 2017.