Victoria to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Thousands of athletes will flock to regional Victoria as the state prepares to host the Commonwealth Games for the second time in two decades.

Victoria will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed.

The Games will be an ­almost completely regional event, showcasing rural Victoria to the world, while Melbourne could host a handful of events.

As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, the games will take place across four regional hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, each with an athletes’ village.

Shepparton will also host events, while the MCG will be home to the opening ceremony.

The games are expected to contribute $3bn to Victoria’s economy and also create thousands of jobs.

Mr Andrews, who officially revealed the news in Ballarat, called it a “very significant announcement for our state” and a “great vote of confidence in regional Victoria”.

The Premier said the return on investment would be an “absolute net positive” with “obvious” economic benefits for the state.

The government estimated the games would create 7500 jobs — 600 in the lead-up, 3900 during, and 3000 after the event.

Sporting venues across the state will receive upgrades in preparation for 2026, although details on which venues and the extent of their improvements are yet to be confirmed.

Mr Andrews revealed that Mars Stadium in Ballarat would be among the recipients.

He said the games would improve regional housing supply, but that there was no plan yet to turn athletes’ housing into public homes.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp welcomed the announcement, saying it would help with Melbourne’s recovery, despite most activity being centred in the regions.

Cr Capp said the MCG was the “perfect stadium” to host the opening ceremony.

“We can’t wait to open the Games in Melbourne and be the gateway for visiting athletes and fans to enter Victoria,” she said.

“The 2026 Games and all the milestones along the way are more good news for city traders who desperately need the visitors that major events bring into Melbourne.

“This is another huge boost for them to look forward to.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp ‘can’t wait’ to open the Games in Melbourne. Picture: David Caird

Nationals leader Peter Walsh said it was crucial that regional Victoria reap the full benefit of infrastructure upgrades and promotional activities that the 2026 event would need.

Mr Walsh said the regional-based Commonwealth Games would require upgrades to sporting facilities, but must also include a program of works on road, rail and to improve access to public transport in the regions.

“A reverse to Labor’s cuts on roads asset maintenance – which totalled $191m last year alone – will be needed to ensure athletes, support staff and crowds can safely and smoothly travel around the state,” he said.

“(But) The state Labor government’s shameful legacy of waste and mismanaged major projects raises red flags that regional Victoria risks missing out on key benefits of hosting a global sporting event.”

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief Felicia Mariani said securing the Commonwealth Games sent a message to the world that “Victoria is back”.

“Today’s announcement that Victoria has secured the right to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games is an unbelievable outcome that reaffirms Victoria’s position as the events capital of Australia and fortifies our trajectory for recovery,” Ms Mariani said.

“This is just the perfect complement to Melbourne’s hosting of the largest crowd in F1 history over the past weekend.

“We have well and truly left the mantle of ‘the world’s most locked-down city’ behind us to become the destination that has emerged from the pandemic bigger, brighter, bolder, and better.

The Commonwealth Games is returning and will go regional this time.

“This bid exemplifies Victoria’s creativity and innovation, presenting a plan that will see these Games delivered in key regional destinations across our beautiful state, allowing the benefits of hosting this prestigious event to be spread around Victoria.

“Most importantly, it says to the world that Victoria is back, the dark days are behind us, and we are reaffirming our position as the unparalleled destination to host events that take Australia to the world.”

Victoria made a formal bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation this year, and in March, Major Events Minister Martin Pakula visited Birmingham, the home of this year’s Games, to discuss the bid.

The Premier previously indicated the event pitched to organisers would be largely in regional Victoria rather than a repeat of the 2006 Games.

“It’s about taking this amazing competition across many different sports into regional cities and towns (to create) jobs, tourism, visitors, economic activity, but also amazing legacy benefits,” Mr Andrews said in February.

Premier Daniel Andrews made the big announcement on Tuesday. Picture: Ian Currie

Other towns, such as Shepparton, have hosted large-scale events before and welcome the chance to invite international tourists and upgrade infrastructure where needed.

Hosting the Games in 2026 will add to Victoria’s ­already packed major events calendar, which is back on the global stage after a successful Formula One Grand Prix.

The Australian Grand Prix roared back to life with a record four-day crowd of 419,114 people.

“This year’s Australian Grand Prix proved that Melbourne is back as the home of the biggest sporting events in Australia,” Mr Pakula said.

“More than 400,000 fans poured through the gates over the four days – the biggest F1 crowd ever – and that will have delivered a huge boost to local hotels, cafes, pubs and retailers. The pictures of Albert Park and the CBD were beamed around the world and there’s no doubt that will attract many visitors to Victoria in coming years.”

The four-day crowd of 419,114 was not only the biggest in F1 history, but also eclipsed other major Victorian events.

In 2006, the Melbourne Cup Carnival came close with 418,069 attendees over four race days while the 1996 Grand Prix attracted 401,000.

The 1956 Olympic Games is estimated to have attracted 1.153 million people.