Commonwealth Games Federation announces fewer Sports in 2026 – Badminton not Included

As you may be aware, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced yesterday that the Commonwealth Games 2026 would be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will have 10 sports but unfortunately, Badminton is not one of them.  The CGF announced that “The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball”.

This will be disappointing news for badminton athletes from around the Commonwealth as this multi-sport event has been a really important part of athlete pathways. The Commonwealth Games has also been an important opportunity for BWF Members to secure national funding for player development towards qualification in the Games.

The decision by the CGF comes out of a unique set of circumstances following the withdrawal of the state of Victoria, Australia, who were originally selected to host the 2026 Games. The CGF were forced to select a new host that could deliver a realistic programme in a much shorter timeframe, hence the reduced programme.

Badminton has been a part of the Commonwealth Games since 1966. BWF has assurances that badminton very much remains part of the Commonwealth Games family.

We look forward to working closely with the CGF to ensure badminton returns to the sports programme in 2030.