Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Coverage

Television Seven Network
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Seven: the home of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Glasgow 20.26 Commonwealth Games
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New deal covers 2026 and 2030 Games, live, free and exclusive

The Seven Network today announced it has signed an exclusive agreement with Commonwealth Sport to become the official Australian broadcast media partner for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August next year.

Seven will also be the official Australian media partner for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, for which the host selection process conducted by Commonwealth Sport is currently in progress.

The agreement with Commonwealth Sport covers broadcast, digital, connected TV, radio, social media and subscription TV rights in the Australian territory for both Games, ensuring live and free coverage across Seven and 7plus Sport for all Australians.

Glasgow 2026 will be the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games and will feature a 10-sport program and approximately 3,000 athletes competing from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories. Glasgow 2026 will once again be a fully integrated event, featuring six Para sports and a record 47 Para sport medal events, making it the largest integrated Para sport program in Commonwealth Games history.

The 2026 Games will include Athletics and Para Athletics (track and 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 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball.

More than 200 gold medals will be up for grabs across the 10 days of sporting competition including the biggest Track Cycling and swim programs ever seen at a Commonwealth Games, with 26 medal events in the velodrome and 56 medal events in the pool, across both Para and non Para competitions

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, said: “Seven has a long and proud history with the Commonwealth Games and we are delighted to be able to bring the 2026 and 2030 Games to every Australian, live, free and only on the screens of Seven.

“Sport is part of Seven’s DNA, and we are looking forward to adding the Commonwealth Games to our strong sporting line up for 2026, including Australia’s favourite winter and summer sports – AFL and cricket – horse racing, NFL, LIV Golf and much more.”

Australia’s most respected sports broadcaster, Bruce McAvaney, said: “Since we first competed in the Games almost 100 years ago, this event has been near and dear to Australians.

“We’ve stood tall against the champion endurance runners of Kenya, sprinters from Jamaica and the world’s best netballers.

“Superstars have emerged – a 16-year-old Cathy Freeman and Hayley Lewis, just 15, at the 1990 Games in Auckland. We witnessed Raelene Boyle’s awesome swansong in Brisbane and shared the emotion as Kerryn McCann won the marathon at the MCG in 2006. It was spine-tingling to watch Oli Hoare run down two world champions to win the 1500m in Birmingham,” he said.

“The Glasgow Games bring with them a new impetus, a new enthusiasm and another opportunity to cement relationships among nations. It is thrilling and a privilege for Seven to be able to continue our long association bringing the Games to all Australians.”

Commonwealth Sport CEO, Katie Sadleir, said: “We are delighted that Seven has committed to be the exclusive Australian broadcast media partner for both the 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games. Seven has been a strong supporter of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and this new agreement underlines the significance and standing of the Commonwealth Games in one of our biggest markets and its continued huge appeal to the Australian public.

“Seven’s long-term commitment shows the belief our valued commercial partners have in our reimagined Games model, with Glasgow 2026 a bridge to the Games of tomorrow – an important first step in our journey to reimagine and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future; one that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact.”

Chief Executive of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Phil Batty OBE, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Seven to Glasgow 2026 as the official Australian broadcast partner. As a longstanding partner of the Games, their commitment to 2026 and 2030 demonstrates the renewed importance of the Games globally to spectators and athletes. Working with Seven, this is an incredible platform to showcase Glasgow 2026, Scotland and world-class sport.”

Commonwealth Games Australia President, Ben Houston, welcomed the announcement: “We are delighted that Seven will be the Australian broadcast partner for Glasgow 2026 and the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

“Seven provided unparalleled coverage of the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Games and this continued partnership will showcase the Australian Commonwealth Games Team as it competes against the best athletes across the Commonwealth.”

Seven Network Director of Sport, Chris Jones, said: “Known as ‘The Friendly Games’, the Commonwealth Games are a unique sporting event. Glasgow 2026 will be very special Games, bringing together elite Para athletes and athletes from many different cultures to compete for glory. The Commonwealth Games are the only Games of its size to fully integrate Para sport in a celebration of difference and achievement.

“Glasgow 2026 will take place entirely within the city boundaries, creating a unique and exciting and immersive atmosphere. Seven will be there, bringing all the action and the great performances of our athletes back home – live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.”

Seven Network Commercial Director – Sport, Renee Quirk, said: “Our long-term partnership with Commonwealth Sport and Commonwealth Games Australia reflects our commitment to giving all Australians access to the biggest and best sport, for free.

“Glasgow 2026 will be an amazing Games and Australia will get to cheer on our team competing in prime time, including our swimmers, track and field athletes, cyclists, netballers and more.”

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Seven and 7plus - Bruce McAvaney
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TBH I’m not surprised Seven has picked up the rights - would’ve been a fairly decent price given the scaled down format.

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They got 2030 too

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Why would they waste their money on this?

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Bargain price now?

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You would hope so. I still don’t think it would be main channel worthy though.

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especially given Nine has the Olympics up until (and including) Brisbane 2032.

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The problem with all of this is how seven cover sports without actually being at the venues or host city. They couldn’t even host the Olympics from the cities so the the comm games will be done even cheaper. I’d say they got these rights due to lack of interest from others.

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It might be after 9.30pm due to the time difference.

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Nine has all the big events 7 used to have (Olympics, Melbourne Cup Carnival, Sydney-Hobart Yacht Rave and Australian Open) and 7 is stuck with the Commonwealth Fames

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Great news!

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God it really is a thin list of sports left now.
I hope Seven didn’t pay much.

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I agree. There is only 10 sports being played, compared to 20 in 2022. I am also thinking that Seven must have gotten the rights for a bargain price.

As for airing of the games, id say it will be on 7Mate for the whole duration, with perhaps some extra coverage on Seven’s Main Channel after 10.30pm instead of some repeat of some US drama (or whatever else is there)

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I wouldn’t say “stuck”. They’ve chosen to broadcast them on a number of occasions.

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the commonwealth games are becoming increasingly irrelevant these days

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Don’t agree at all. The GC Games in 2018 were an amazing event and very well organised and attended. Popular on television.
Yes the 2026 Games and the whole Melbourne bid was a debacle.. and they struggled to get a new host city and reduce costs.. but once the games start, they will be as popular as ever, especially with Australians.

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The world has changed a bit since 2018 - they’ll still be popular to an extent, but the stripped back programme won’t pull in as many viewers IMHO.

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Despite the streamlined program, I still think most of the day’s coverage will air on the primary channel from (say) 7 or 7:30pm, as was the case for Birmingham 2022.

And with no Saturday night AFL in Melbourne, Seven could air daily action on the primary channel there; IIRC, B2022 coverage aired on 7mate when the AFL was on in that market.

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Still plenty of swimming, athletics and cycling.. typically the most popular sports. And we have a number of up and coming athletics stars who should be hitting a peak next year as well as a strong swim team. And Aussie viewers love seeing Aussies winning gold, no matter if it’s CG or OG, and we always dominate at the Comm Games.

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Gout Gout will be there and he will draw viewers. The CG is also a stepping point for our Australian Olympics. Unlikely we will host it until at least 2034 with Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics. India and Canada are the frontrunners for the 2030 editions.