The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has officially confirmed Glasgow as the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, returning to the city 12 years after the hugely successful 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme which will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & 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 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball
This will be Judo’s fifth appearance at the Commonwealth Games, building on the success of previous campaigns in 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2022, where Scottish judoka have collectively won 35 medals (nine gold, nine silver and seventeen bronze).
The 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland saw Scottish Judoka take home eight medals, with Loretta Cusack- Doyle securing a gold and current JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston winning a silver medal. It would be another 12 years before judo returned to the Games, and in 2002, we headed to Manchester, where the team secured an impressive 10 medals, including Graeme Randall winning gold.
After another 12-year wait, judo made a triumphant return in 2014, this time on home soil in Glasgow. With sold-out crowds, it was an unforgettable event, with Judoka winning 13 medals from 14 athletes (six gold, two silver, five bronze)making judo Scotland’s most successful sport of the Games.
Judo’s most recent appearance was in 2022, when we once again headed south of the border, this time securing four medals in Birmingham. Sarah Adlington made history by becoming the first Scottish judoka to win two Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Judo’s inclusion in the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a significant achievement for the entire community. As one of just ten sports chosen for this streamlined edition, its selection reflects the sport’s rising popularity and the strength of its presence across the Commonwealth nations. For Scotland’s judoka, it presents a prime opportunity to compete on the international stage, proudly representing Scotland, and demonstrating their skills to a global audience.
We now have a fantastic opportunity to add to our Commonwealth Games story. Our CEO Judith McCleary said:
“We are thrilled that judo is included in the sports programme for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games provide a fantastic opportunity for athletes to represent Scotland, and the opportunity to do so in Glasgow is particularly special.
Judo has a rich history of success in the Games, none more so than at the Glasgow 2014 Games in which 13 judoka won medals towards Scotland’s overall medal count of 53.
As we allow the exciting news to settle and start our own preparations, we hope that the Commonwealth Games will not only bring the judo community together, but will unite the whole country to deliver a fantastic event and showcase Scotland at its best.”
To find out more about the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, visit www.glasgow2026.com