The countdown is on to Glasgow 2026: One year to go!

Today marks exactly one year to go until the 2026 Commonwealth Games kicks off in Glasgow! We are delighted that athletics has been selected as one of the ten sports to be featured at the Games.

The Commonwealth Games is an exciting competition, giving opportunities to athletes to not only represent their country, but to also do so very close to home.

This year, there will be 58 athletes, in addition to our invited para-athletes, and it has been fantastic to see so many hit the qualifying marks already.

For many athletes, the Commonwealth Games is their first taste of a multi-sport competition, and we caught up with some of the 2022 contingent, to find out about some of their favourite memories:

"My favourite memory from the Commonwealth Games was seeing so many of my friends and family in the crowd during my lap of honour and getting to celebrate with them, as they were the people who helped me achieve my bronze medal!" - Ben Pattison (bronze, 800m)

"One of my favourite Commonwealth Games memories was walking out into a stadium full of a cheering home crowd - it honestly gave me goosebumps, everyone was so loud and supportive! Also having all of my family and friends there, it’s up there with one of the most special heptathlons I’ve ever done." - Jade O'Dowda (bronze, heptathlon)

"My favourite memory of the Commonwealth Games was when I was co-captain of the athletics team at Gold Coast 2018! I thankfully also delivered on the road, winning silver just a few seconds behind gold, in a new British record time. My first ever major champs was when I was 20 years old at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, I learned so much from that, it always sticks in my mind fondly." - Tom Bosworth (silver, 20km race walk)

Next summer, Scott Grace will be Team Leader and after attending three Games so far, he has plenty of favourite memories to share:

"2022 was incredible being on home soil in Birmingham. It was fantastic having both Para and Non-Para athletes together on the same team. The Games showcase what is good and great about not only our sport but also England as a nation. I have so many favourite moments to look back on, and it is really hard to narrow down, but here's a shortlist:

• 2014 – Watching Matt Hudson-Smith bring home the gold in the men’s 4x400m. The battle on the final leg was amazing and I was sat beside his coach at the time, on the finish line. A brilliant, passionate run by someone so young.
• 2014 – Jazmin Sawyers winning the silver in the long jump and the special moment she shared with her personal coach.
• 2018 – Both the men’s and women’s 4x100m were amazing, and also Nick Miller breaking 80m in the hammer and setting a Games record.
• 2022 – The gold, silver, and bronze in the women’s T34 100m was something special and watching Katarina Johnson-Thompson retain her title."

Want to experience the Games first hand for yourself and cheer on our Team England athletes? Tickets are not yet on sale, but be sure to register your interest and be the first to hear about them!

Selection policies and athlete information

England Athletics Policy

This document outlines the process by which England Athletics will arrive at its decisions to nominate athletes for selection for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The final team will be nominated to Commonwealth Games England, following a single selection meeting to be held on Monday 15 June 2026.

England Para Athletics Policy

The Commonwealth Games Federation have announced the Para Athletics Qualification System will consist of two methods of qualification for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

• Direct Qualification – World Para Athletics Commonwealth Rankings (ranking period is between 1 January 2025 to 23:59 on 31 March 2026).
• Bipartite Invitation.

England Athletics will recommend to Commonwealth Games England that it accepts each invitation allocated to an English athlete.