Cheering on our Aussie athletes at the Commonwealth Games
The Albanese Government joins the country in cheering on Australia’s athletes, as the 2026 Commonwealth Games kicks off in Glasgow. The Games run from 23 July to 2 August 2026, with Australia fielding a team of 256, including 151 debutants, competing across all 10 sports on the Games program. Australia has topped the medal table at every Commonwealth Games since 1990 and this team has boldly predicted that feat will be repeated in Glasgow.
With every state and territory represented, the 2026 team includes the Australian Diamonds chasing back-to-back netball gold, world record holder Cam McEvoy aiming to add to his eight Commonwealth Games medals and a cycling team featuring six reigning world champions including two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist para-cyclist Jessica Gallagher. The 86-strong track and field team features Olympic champion and Australia’s flag-bearer Nina Kennedy, who is seeking to continue Australia’s remarkable pole vault record, with the nation winning six of the past seven gold medals, along with young gun Cameron Myers, the freshly minted 1500m national record holder.
Glasgow 2026 also features Para-athletes competing on the same stage as their able-bodied counterparts, with athletes across 6 different sports, all backed by the Albanese Government’s historic Para Uplift investment, creating generational change for athletes with a disability and pathway opportunities the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. This support is part of the Albanese Government’s record investment of $513 million over two years for Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes.
The package includes $42.8 million in direct grants from the Australian Sports Commission to help individual athletes with daily living and training expenses. Australia will be represented at the Commonwealth Games by Governor General Sam Mostyn, who is representing all Australians as Patron-in-Chief of Commonwealth Games Australia at Glasgow 2026. Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport Anika Wells: “The Commonwealth Games holds a special place in the hearts of Australian fans and athletes alike.
It creates unforgettable moments, showcases our brilliant Para athletes on, and is an opportunity for our Australia’s best to test themselves against world class international competition. “We will continue to invest in our Aussie athletes and sports so they have what they need to succeed, from upgraded training facilities to world-class coaching. “Every competitor at these games was once a young and ambitious kid starting out at the grassroots level, so this serves as a fantastic example to every kid who dreams of competing on the world stage.
“The Albanese Government is incredibly proud of all our athletes, and we are joining the nation in cheering you on.”