Why isn’t triathlon included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow?

Why isn’t triathlon included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow?

The Commonwealth Games are beginning in Glasgow, but triathlon will not feature. With a stripped-back list of sports following the move from Victoria in Australia after costs spiralled, only ten sports have made the cut.


England's Jodie Stimpson celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Strathclyde Country Park near Glasgow on 24 July, 2014.
Credit: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images

As the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony gets under way in Glasgow, you might be wondering where the triathletes are. Well, as we reported back in October 2024, a stripped-back list of sports following the move from Victoria in Australia after costs spiralled meant that only 10 sports have made the cut.

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 2014 Commonwealth Games where triathlon was included in the schedule. 

The sports programme for 2026 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.

The events will be concentrated across four venues and will see no events contested on the roads, which previously included triathlon, the marathon run and road cycling. This will see less free-to-attend events at the Games.

Triathlon has previously seen athletes from Great Britain do well in the Commonwealth Games medal table.

Alex Yee wins commonwealth games triathlon
Alex Yee wins the commonwealth games men’s individual triathlon in Birmingam, 2022

In 2022 Alex Yee took gold in the individual men’s event for England. In the women’s race Bermuda’s Flora Duffy won gold, with Georgia Taylor-Brown taking silver for England and Beth Potter bronze for Scotland.

L-R: Alex Yee, Sophie Coldwell, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sam Dickinson of Team England pose on the finish line after winning triathlon mised team relay gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
L-R: Alex Yee, Sophie Coldwell, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sam Dickinson of Team England pose on the finish line after winning triathlon mixed team relay gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. (Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images)

England also took gold in the mixed relay and in the para events, England’s Dave Ellis and Katie Crowhurst were victorious.

Guide Jessica Fullagar and Katie Crowhurst of Team England celebrate winning gold in the Womens Para Triathlon on day three of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Last time the Games was in Glasgow in 2014, Jodie Stimpson won the women’s event to receive the first gold on the medal table.

List of confirmed sports

Confirmed sports at the 2026 Commonwealth Games are:

  • Athletics and para-athletics (track and field only)
  • Swimming and para-swimming
  • Artistic gymnastics
  • Track cycling and para-track cycling
  • Netball
  • Weightlifting and para-powerlifting
  • Boxing
  • Judo
  • Bowls and para-bowls
  • 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball

A very different Games

First Minister John Swinney said at the time of the annoucement: “While Glasgow 2026 will look quite different to previous Games, we can, and we must, use this as an opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure that this new concept brings a strong and sustainable future for the Games. The Scottish Government is committed to playing its part in building that new vision.”

If you’re looking for some triathlon action this weekend though, look no further than London which is hosting the T100 and WTCS races with more coverage across 220 Triathlon as all the action unfolds.

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Helen Webster
Editor, 220 Triathlon

About

Helen has been 220’s Editor since July 2013, when she made the switch from marathons to multisport. She’s usually found open-water swimming and has competed in several swimruns as well as the ÖtillÖ World Series. Helen is a qualified Level 2 Open-Water Swim Coach focusing on open-water confidence and runs regular workshops at the South West Maritime Academy near Bristol. She is also an RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard trainer/assessor.



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