The Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games dates are locked in and a process is open for additional sports to be added to the program.
The Commonwealth Games will be held between March 17-29, 2026, beginning with the Opening Ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where athletes and visitors from around Australia and the world will gather to celebrate the start of the Games.
The Opening Ceremony will be followed by 12 days of competition between the Commonwealth’s best athletes across regional Victoria, allowing the regions to shine on the world stage.
The state government will work with the education sector in relation to the school term dates that year to ensure the participation of as many Victorians in the Games as possible.
An expressions of interest process for additional sports to be included in the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games has commenced and will involve submissions from international sporting federations with support from recognised or affiliated Australian organisations.
In a Commonwealth Games first, Victoria 2026 will introduce a multi-city model that delivers global sport to four regional hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.
Each of those hubs will have its own athletes’ village and host a range of sports that will create a legacy for Victoria that extends well beyond the competition period.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan, said the Commonwealth’s finest athletes would compete for gold in regional Victoria at the 2026 Games.
“We’re getting on with delivering this global sporting event and including more sports will draw more of the
Commonwealth’s finest athletes to our own backyard to inspire Victorians,’’ Ms Allan said.
