India has officially submitted an Expression of Interest to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with Ahmedabad as the proposed host city. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Gujarat government jointly sent the proposal to Commonwealth Sport, aiming to bring the prestigious multi-sport event back to India after two decades.
Hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games is seen as a stepping stone for India’s larger goal of securing the 2036 Olympics. By showcasing its infrastructure and organizational capabilities, India hopes to strengthen its position as a global sporting destination. Ahmedabad, which is also being considered for the 2036 Olympic bid, is at the center of these ambitious plans.
India has previously hosted the Commonwealth Games once, in 2010 in New Delhi. Additionally, the country hosted the Asian Games in 1982, making these the only multi-sport events held in India so far.
The Commonwealth Sport will now review all bids before its General Assembly finalizes the host city. However, the timeline for this decision remains uncertain. The last edition of the Commonwealth Games took place in Birmingham, UK, in 2022.
The bidding process for the 2026 Commonwealth Games has already faced significant setbacks, with the Australian state of Victoria withdrawing and Malaysia rejecting the offer due to financial concerns. Despite past challenges, India remains committed to bringing the Commonwealth Games back to its shores and positioning itself for future global sporting events.
Glasgow to host 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victoria’s withdrawal
The 2026 Commonwealth Games, officially the XXIII Commonwealth Games and Glasgow 2026, is set to take place from 23 July to 2 August 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. This will be the fourth time Scotland hosts the Games, following the 1970 and 1986 editions in Edinburgh and the 2014 Games in Glasgow.
Originally awarded to Victoria, Australia, in April 2022, the Games were left without a host after the state government withdrew on 18 July 2023 due to rising costs. Gold Coast, Queensland, briefly considered co-hosting but later withdrew. With no host, concerns arose about a possible postponement to 2027 or outright cancellation.
On 11 August 2024, reports suggested Glasgow had secured hosting rights, though official confirmation came later. Commonwealth Games Scotland proposed a streamlined event with 10 to 13 sports, using existing venues and funded by £100 million from the Commonwealth Games Federation and £30–50 million from commercial sources.
On 17 September 2024, Scotland formally agreed to host with financial support from Commonwealth Games Australia. The scaled-down Games will feature 11 sports across four venues without an athletes’ village.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be the first to be held since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III, as Head of the Commonwealth.