Hockey, diving and rugby among sports axed for 2026 Commonwealth Games

There were some certainties around which sports would be axed for the cut-price 2026 Comm Games but the shock was in some which made the cut.

Officials for the downsized 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland remain adamant the “drama, passion and joy” will exist despite a mass cull leaving just 10 sports on the program with 3x3 basketball a shock survivor for the “leaner and lighter” event.

Netball has been saved but rugby sevens has been axed with lawn bowls another surprise stayer for the event set to be held in Glasgow after former Victorian premier Dan Andrews abandoned his state’s decision to host, citing a billion-dollar cost blowout.

Diving and road cycling, which have been a fixture of the Commonwealth Games since 1930 Empire Games and 1938 respectively, and regular providers of medals for Australia, have both been cut from the program.

Cricket has been axed for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Australia won gold in 2022 in Birmingham. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Hockey loses its place for the first time since 1998 while the one-off experiment with women’s T20 cricket, in which Australia captured the gold medal in Birmingham, has also been shelved.

Badminton, beach volleyball, cricket, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, squash, table tennis and para table tennis, triathlon and para triathlon, and wrestling, which were all part of the Games in Birmingham in 2022, are all gone.

Organisers have declared the desire for a financially sustainable event, with much of the funding coming from the $300 million exit fee paid by the Victorian government, and the short turnaround time was the main reason for the trimmed-down program.

“When we started pulling this concept together just under a year ago, our focus was on creating a Games that was different,” Commonwealth Games Scotland CEO Jon Doig said.

“Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy that we know the Commonwealth Games delivers, even if it is to be lighter and leaner than some previous editions.”

Only athletics and swimming were guarantee a start in Glasgow and boxing, track cycling, gymnastics, judo and weightlifting also made the cut.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Scotland from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, August 2.

The program will be officially released later on Tuesday.

Australia won gold in men’s hockey at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Photo: Grant Treeby

SPORTS CUT FOR 2026

Cycling Mountain bike, Cycling road, Hockey, Triathlon and para triathlon, Cricket, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Beach volleyball, Diving, Shooting, Badminton

Table tennis and para table tennis, Wrestling

Originally published as Hockey, diving and rugby among sports axed for 2026 Commonwealth Games