The Commonwealth Games 2026 are just around the corner, and Glasgow is quietly buzzing with anticipation. As athletes from across the Commonwealth begin to arrive, the city is subtly transforming, with signs of the upcoming event becoming increasingly visible. From the moment one steps off the plane at Glasgow International Airport, the atmosphere is charged with excitement and anticipation.
The airport is a hub of activity, with athletes in their national team tracksuits waiting for their luggage, greeted by volunteers in the Games’ distinctive purple uniforms. Every few minutes, a new team emerges through the arrival gates, adding to the steady stream of athletes that will soon number nearly 3,000. However, beyond the airport, the atmosphere is more subdued, with the city centre carrying subtle reminders of the impending event.
Glasgow’s Subtle Transformation
Posters featuring the official mascot, Finnie the Unicorn, with its distinctive traffic-cone horn, stand alongside images of Scotland’s leading athletes. A countdown clock greets commuters at Central Station and Queen Street Station, while ticket barriers have been wrapped in Games branding. Yet, beyond these pockets of visible change, Glasgow continues at its familiar pace, with little to suggest that an international sporting event is just around the corner.
The Games were originally planned for Australia’s Victoria state but were relocated to Glasgow after the former withdrew due to spiralling costs. As a result, the 2026 Games will feature just 10 sports, the fewest since the 1994 edition, spread across four venues: the Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow Arena, Scotstoun Stadium, and Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
The Heart of the Action: The River Clyde
Along the River Clyde, the heart of Glasgow’s entertainment district, preparations continue around the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), the busiest venue during the Games. Security personnel patrol the area, barriers are in place, and workers are putting the finishing touches to the precinct. Organisers hope that the tranquillity of the Clyde will soon be replaced by the noise of packed stands as the competition begins.
For many Glaswegians, the Games represent not just a sporting event but a deeply personal opportunity. Taxi driver Vincent Dobbins, for instance, has a personal stake in the Games, with his son, Matti Dobbins, preparing for his Commonwealth Games debut. Matti, a former Scottish road race champion, now represents Ireland through his father’s heritage, adding a unique dimension to the family’s connection to the event.
Stars on the Horizon
Not all the stars have arrived yet. Among those still to make their way to Glasgow is Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga. His remarkable rise over the past month has made him the favourite to win gold. The 23-year-old stunned the athletics world by winning the Rome Diamond League last month with a monstrous throw of 92.62 metres, positioning him as a strong contender ahead of India’s two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem.
Sri Lanka won four medals, including one silver and three bronze, at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2026. The island nation’s team officials are hopeful that Tharanga will deliver the country’s first athletics gold since Deshamanya Duncan M. White’s top finish in the men’s 400 yard hurdles in 1950. “He has been doing well. Hopefully, he can keep his form, perform well, and get the gold,” said Sri Lanka team manager Mohamed Rifath.
Wales’ Proud Commonwealth Tradition
Wales has a proud tradition at the Commonwealth Games, with iconic moments that include Colin Jackson’s hurdle heroics, Nicole Cooke’s cycling success, and Dave Morgan’s weightlifting dominance. Team Wales won a record 36 medals in Glasgow in 2014, a feat they matched at the Gold Coast in 2018, where they won five more golds.
As the countdown continues to the opening ceremony of the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, BBC Sport Wales looks back at iconic Welsh moments as this year’s athletes look to make their own history. “I can’t wait to see the team do everything to make everyone in Wales proud,” said captain Olivia Breen.
Welsh athletics has produced some of the country’s greatest Commonwealth performers. Kirsty Wade won 800m gold at Brisbane 1982 before achieving a memorable 800m and 1500m double in Edinburgh four years later. Those same 1986 Games also saw a teenage Colin Jackson emerge with silver in the 110m hurdles. By the time he won gold in 1990 and defended his title in Victoria in 1994, Jackson was a world-record holder and one of the most dominant athletes on the planet.
Now, a new crop of Welsh athletes will be hoping to launch their race into action. Olympic relay bronze medallist and last year’s world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu spearheads a Wales team that includes 1500m runner Jake Heyward making his comeback after battling back from Achilles surgery earlier this year, as well as British bobsleigh Olympian Adele Nicoll in the shot put.
Celebrating Accessible Sport
A new documentary created by disabled young people from Glasgow will premiere as part of the Glasgow 2026 Festival. Celebrating the athletes, coaches, and volunteers who are helping make sport more accessible, inclusive, and transformative across the city, the film will be screened as part of a ten-week celebration of Glasgow’s world-renowned culture, creativity, and people.
Produced by disability arts charity Speech Bubble Drama, Gamechangers follows the stories of young disabled people whose involvement in sport has improved their physical and mental wellbeing, expanded their social networks, and opened up new opportunities for personal and professional development.
The documentary has been developed by Speech Bubble’s young filmmakers as part of the organisation’s ongoing film programme, which has been running since 2026. This year, participants chose documentary filmmaking as their focus and quickly identified disability sport as a subject they felt deserved greater visibility during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games summer.
The film explores a variety of sports and activities available to disabled people throughout Glasgow, while highlighting the individuals who are not only benefiting from participation but helping to reshape sport itself for future generations. “With the Commonwealth Games bringing people together from across the world, this felt like the perfect moment to showcase some of the inspiring activity happening here in the city and to celebrate the people who are making sport more inclusive,” said Jennifer Cassidy, Chief Executive Officer at Speech Bubble Drama.
