When are the next commonwealth games going to be held

The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have been a resounding success, with the region being given the opportunity to showcase itself.

Athletes and representatives from across the world have descended on the region, and we’re already nearing the end of the games.

As Birmingham 2022 draws to a close, attention for some may be turning towards the next Commonwealth Games, despite them being several years away still.

Here’s what we know so far about the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including which city they will be held in and when they were announced as hosts.

When are the next commonwealth games going to be held
When are the next commonwealth games going to be held
Residents and visitors have had the chance to enjoy the free site since the Games started and it will continue to be in the town until after the closing ceremony. Photo by Geoff Ousbey

11 days of sport in Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands region draw to a close with the closing ceremony of the games.

This is due to start at 8pm on Monday, 8 August at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

The Commonwealth Games, similar to other global sporting events such as the Olympics, takes place every four years.

The dates of the Commonwealth Games fall on the same year as the FIFA Men’s World Cup, which this year takes place in the winter in Qatar.

The last Commonwealth Games took place in 2018 in Gold Coast, the same year as the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Russia.

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Australia for the sixth time in the 92 year history of the Games.

Victoria will host the first ever predominantly regional Commonwealth Games.

Victoria 2026 will be staged in March across multiple cities and regional hubs including Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

The Opening Ceremony will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The approach will showcase the best of what the State has to offer and ensure a uniquely Victorian experience for the athletes and spectators.

There will be a phased approach in creating the sports programme for Victoria 2026. An initial 16 sports have been put forward for the Games, with further sports to be added later this year.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “The Commonwealth Games Federation is absolutely delighted to award the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria.

“Commonwealth Games Australia and the Victorian Government have set out a bold and innovative vision for hosting our major multi-sport event.

“In Victoria, we believe we have found the perfect partner for the next stage of our journey.

“This is a very special moment for the Commonwealth Sport Family and on behalf of the entire Movement, I would like to congratulate Commonwealth Games Australia and Victoria on their successful Games submission.

“We now look forward to a bright future as we work together to stage a Commonwealth Games like no other.”

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said: “It’s a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state.”

“The Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria is great for jobs, hospitality and our economy.”

He added: “Australia has staged the Commonwealth Games on five occasions, with Victoria playing host to the Melbourne 2006 Games; widely considered one of the most successful editions of the event in history.

“The country has also staged the Games in Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982 and most recently Gold Coast in 2018. Victoria has also hosted the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo in 2004."

Sport

Athletes from around the Commonwealth have been competing in the “friendly” games.

It has been a feast of sport, from cycling and gymnastics to hockey and weightlifting.

But which city will host the games next after Birmingham?

For the sixth time, the Commonwealth Games will be held in Australia, but for the first time a state or region has been awarded the privilege of hosting the Games.

Victoria is set to host the Games with several cities, including Melbourne, being involved.

Melbourne hosted the Games in 2006 and will once again prepare to host the opening ceremony 20 years on.

The Commonwealth Games was the first fully inclusive international multi-sport event when it was introduced in 1930 as athletes with a disability were included as full members of their national teams.

The Commonwealth Games Federation entered an ‘exclusive dialogue’ period with the Victorian authorities back in February and later announced: “The Commonwealth Games Federation is absolutely delighted to award the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria.

“Commonwealth Games Australia and the Victorian Government have set out a bold and innovative vision that provides an exciting new blueprint for hosting our major multi-sport event.”

When are the next commonwealth games going to be held
When are the next commonwealth games going to be held
England and Canada in Rugby Sevens event at 2018 Commonwealth Games

Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews said: “This will be a Commonwealth like no other. We promised we wouldn’t be doing a re-run of 2006, as successful as that was.

“This is also about creating jobs - some nearly 4,000 jobs during the Commonwealth Games and some 3,000 enduring jobs thereafter.”

Australia hosted the last edition of the Games back in 2018 with the multi-sport tournament taking place by the country’s Gold Coast.

The first time Australia hosted the Commonwealth Games was in 1938 when Sydney was awarded the hosting role. Perth hosted the Games in 1962 before Brisbane took on the role 20 years later.

So far, 16 sports have been confirmed to take part in the Games: aquatics, volleyball, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis, triathlon, athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, netball, squash, weight lifting, badminton, T20 cricket, road cycling and rugby sevens.

Melbourne Cricket Ground is set to host the opening ceremony but the athletes’ villages will be set up in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

When are the next commonwealth games going to be held
When are the next commonwealth games going to be held
Opening Ceremony at Gold Coast, Australia in 2018

Each ‘cluster’ or regional hub will be set up for varying sports:

  • Aquatics (Swimming, Para swimming and diving)
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Cricket T20
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Table Tennis, Para Table Tennis
  • Triathlon and Para Triathlon

  • Athletics and Para-Athletics
  • Boxing
  • Cricket T20

  • Cricket T20
  • Cycling
  • Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls
  • Netball
  • Squash
  • Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting

  • Badminton
  • Cricket T20
  • Cycling 
  • Rugby Sevens

Birmingham was originally set to host the Games in 2026 but in 2017, Durban, South Africa, was stripped of its right to host the Games in 2022 due to financial issues so Birmingham stepped up to the mark.

Kuala Lumpur, Cardiff, Calgary, Edmonton and Adelaide were other contenders for the 2026 Games but ultimately withdrew their bids ahead of the decision to award Victoria with the hosting role.