Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting to feature at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Weightlifting Scotland (WLS) and British Weight Lifting (BWL) are excited to learn of the Glasgow 2026 sports programme as announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation. 

Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting will feature among the ten (10) sports to be contested at the XXIII Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow from 23 July until 02 August 2026.
 
With Weightlifting joining the sports programme at the Auckland 1950 Games, and Para Powerlifting during Manchester 2002, both sports have enjoyed a long and rich history within the movement. 
 
‘Against the backdrop of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the next edition of the Games will provide another opportunity for our athletes to compete under their own flag and create lasting and impactful memories for Team Scotland. We thank Commonwealth Games Scotland for their ongoing support and look forward to working in partnership with the Organisers to deliver an outstanding world class competition’ said Richard Tawse, CEO of WLS.

Matthew Curtain, CEO of BWL said ‘the Commonwealth Games is an important and truly unique event for our community providing an international opportunity for our home nations, crown dependencies and overseas territories; as celebrated as recently as the last Games at Birmingham 2022 where Emily Campbell (England), Holly O’ Shea (Gibraltar) and Micky Yule (Scotland) were selected as Flag Bearers for their respective Commonwealth Games Associations at the Opening Ceremony.  
 
BWL is currently undergoing a period of renaissance as demonstrated by our increasing athlete participation, membership development, growing fanbase, marketing appeal, and new corporate and strategic partners.  We have achieved this by working more closely with our clubs, athletes, officials, volunteers, and the functional fitness sector.  
 
The 2026 Commonwealth Games and indeed our feasibility to bid to host the 2027 European Championships and the 2027 WPPO World Cup will be the next chapters in our journey as we aim to make weightlifting and para powerlifting more relevant and accessible across our diverse membership’.
 
BWL records its appreciation and gratitude to the Commonwealth Games Federation, Glasgow 2026 Organising Committee, International Weightlifting Federation, Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation, World Para Powerlifting and its partner Commonwealth Games Associations.