The lite version of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will still offer more than 200 gold medals

The Commonwealth Games had to be scaled back to survive, but there will still be loads of gold medals on offer for Australians.

The full program for the slimmed-down Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been confirmed with with more than 200 gold medals set to be awarded across 10 sports, to be held at just four venues and the return of a special event after 60 years.

There will be 56 swimming medals up for grabs in Scotland in 2026, the most in Comm Games history, while a mixed 4x400m relay will be contested on the track for the first time.

After a 60-year absence, the Commonwealth Mile will also return to the program as a tribute to the iconic “Miracle Mile” of Vancouver in 1954 won by Roger Bannister, with Australian John Landy landing silver, a moved praised by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.

“The mile is the quintessential Commonwealth athletics event whose return to the Games in Glasgow 2026 I very much welcome,” Coe said in a statement.

“From 1930 through to 1966, the mile was the blue-riband event of each Games and the magic of the mile continues to resonate with sports fans.

“A ticket to watch the final will be one of the must-have seats in Glasgow.”

💚💛 The jam-packed medal program for @Glasgow_2026 is here!

👉🏼 Read more: https://t.co/L3F9iFcnqq#Glasgow2026#CommGamesAUS@AustralianAths@BasketballAus@BowlsAustralia@BoxingAUS@GymAustralia@NetballAust@ausjudo@SwimmingAUS@awfcomau@[e-mail]/QHz6PdrxNI

— Commonwealth Games Australia (@CommGamesAUS) February 6, 2025

The men’s 800m freestyle and women’s 1500m freestyle have also been added to the swimming program, offering Australia chances to boost a medal haul sure to be massive.

Several sports Australia won gold medals in at the last Comm Games in Birmingham in 2022, including T20 cricket and netball, have been scrapped for the lite version, which won’t include an athletes village.

The four venues to be used will include the Scotstoun Stadium and Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with no new infrastructure being built.

After battling to keep the Games afloat, the reduced program was deemed the best possible solution not to just ensure they went ahead in 2026, after former Victorian premier Dan Andrews scrapped his state’s plans to host, but into the future as well.

Australian Commonwealth Games team chef de mission Petria Thomas OAM said confirmation of the program was “an important milestone on the exciting journey to Glasgow 2026”.

“Every edition of the Games has its own unique energy, and 2026 is shaping up to be truly special,” she said.

“With a world-class program and extensive Para-sport competition schedule, this will be a chance for our Australian team to embrace the camaraderie, passion and pride that make the Games one of life’s most rewarding experiences.

Shayna Jack, Mollie O'Callaghan and Emma McKeon scored an Australian trifecta in Birmingham. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

“I look forward to working alongside our team to build a performance-focused and inspiring environment – one that allows every team member to thrive and make these Games one to remember.”

Australia won 105 medals, including 52 gold, at the last Comm Games in Birmingham.

A team of about 270 athletes is set to compete in Glasgow with an aim to be the No.1 nation in terms of gold medals won, overall medals won, medallists and the number of sports winning medals at the Games.

Glasgow 2026 program

Athletics and Para athletics

Basketball 3×3 and wheelchair basketball

Bowls and Para bowls

Boxing

Cycling and Para cycling (track)

Gymnastics (artistic)

Judo

Netball

Swimming and Para swimming

Weightlifting and Para powerlifting

Glasgow 2026 Venues

Scotstoun Stadium

Tollcross International Swimming Centre

Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome

Scottish Events Campus

Originally published as The lite version of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will still offer more than 200 gold medals