What are the Commonwealth Games?
A multi-sport event held every four years between nations and territories of the Commonwealth, most of them former parts of the British Empire. They began in 1930 as the British Empire Games and are sometimes called the Friendly Games. Unlike the Olympics, the four home nations of the United Kingdom compete separately, which is why England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each field their own team.
Why Glasgow, and why only 10 sports
Glasgow is a replacement host. Victoria, in Australia, withdrew in 2024 citing costs that had ballooned far beyond its original budget, leaving the 2026 Games without a venue. Glasgow, which hosted successfully in 2014, stepped in with a deliberately scaled-back plan: ten sports instead of the usual twenty or so, venues that already exist and no new construction. It is a smaller Games by design, and widely read as a test of whether the event can survive at a sustainable size.
How the medal table is ranked
The convention is to rank by gold medals first, then silver, then bronze — so one gold outranks any number of silvers. Some countries, notably the United States in Olympic coverage, prefer to rank by total medals instead, which produces a different order. This table lets you sort either way, so you can see how much the choice matters.
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
From 23 July to 2 August 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland — eleven days of competition, opening with a ceremony at the OVO Hydro.
How many countries take part in the Commonwealth Games?
Around 74 nations and territories, considerably more than the number of sovereign Commonwealth member states, because several territories and the four UK home nations compete separately.
How many sports are in the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Ten, with about 215 gold medals at stake. The programme is much smaller than usual after Glasgow took over as replacement host, and it includes the largest para-sport programme in the event's history.
Why did Victoria pull out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
The Australian state withdrew in July 2024, saying the projected cost had risen several times above the original estimate. Glasgow later agreed to host a reduced version.
Which country has won the most Commonwealth Games medals?
Australia, by a wide margin, followed by England and Canada. Australia has topped the medal table at most editions since the 1990s.