Commonwealth Games 2026: Will it bring Scottish communities together?
As the lynchpin of Scotland’s summer of sport takes shape, we look at how the Commonwealth Games is already uniting communities in their love of sport
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World Cup fever may be sweeping the nation, but the global kick-off is merely a prelude to a huge number of sporting events happening in Scotland this year. Chief amongst them is the Commonwealth Games which, though officially taking place in Glasgow from Thursday 23 July–Sunday 2 August, has broadened its reach throughout the year and across the nation with a wide variety of community-led programmes and initiatives.
As the Tartan Army’s exuberant visit to the US illustrates, sport can transcend politics and social tensions for at least the length of a football match, and the ethos of the Commonwealth games has similarly foregrounded the notion of sport as a focal point for communal fun. During its main event, there will be ten sports, six parasports, four venues and 500,000 tickets sold, with 72 teams competing, including the 54 Commonwealth Of Nations countries and 18 territories. Yet these events are about finding the commonality between nations, a potent message in this era of polarisation.
Underpinning this theme is the Commonwealth Games’ medal, which is perhaps the most consciously accessible medal ever made. Designed by Glasgow School Of Art’s Artist in Residence Militsa Milenkova, the medal is inspired by Glasgow's iconic landmarks and coat of arms, and includes a number of braille and tactile elements. It’s an underscore of the Games’ core message: this is a sporting event for all.
Beyond the Games themselves, there has been a push to embrace and signal-boost a huge number of community-led events under the banner of All In, which describes itself as ‘A Scotland-wide movement inviting communities, schools, sports clubs, cultural and voluntary organisations and businesses to celebrate the Games in their own altogether brilliant way.’
Offering help with listings, free official branding, ready-to-use digital toolkits and other opportunities for nationwide visibility, All In has been empowering supporters to get involved in a way that works for them and their communities, boosting skills, wellbeing and local impact. Events promoted so far have included a ten-kilometre run in St Cyrus, a gala day in Barshaw, a float parade in Tain, a Commonwealth celebration event in Tollcross, and more. If you wanted a reminder that the real magic of sport happens away from gargantuan stadiums, the list above is it.
Sam Heughan, the Outlander star and celebrity ambassador of this year’s games, has commented: ‘The Commonwealth Games have the power to inspire people to move more, whether it’s rediscovering a sport you once loved or trying something new for the first time.’ If you’re feeling the summer of sport isn’t for you, the Commonwealth Games and All In are about to prove you wrong.
Commonwealth Games, various venues, Glasgow, Thursday 23 July – Sunday 2 August; main picture: Corrie Scott.