Communities invited to join Glasgow 2026
The Scottish Government has announced £245,000 of funding to
support the King's Baton Relay (KBR) in Scotland ahead of the
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The funding, awarded to Commonwealth Games Scotland, will support
at least 22 community events during the host nation leg from 1 to
23 July 2026, with the relay travelling to cities, rural areas
and island communities. It will culminate in
the Opening Ceremony of the Games.
Communities and sports clubs are encouraged to express their
interest in hosting a visit, with the call for expressions of
interest open until the end of March 2026.
Sport Minister visited GalGael, a social
enterprise based in Govan, Glasgow, whose craftspeople hand-made
the batons for the relay using ash from Pollok Park.
She said:
"Visiting GalGael and seeing the craftsmanship that has gone into
creating the batons is a wonderful reminder of what makes this
relay so special. I'm pleased that Scottish Government funding
will help bring the King's Baton Relay to communities right
across Scotland this summer.
"Whether a sports club, a community group, or you simply want to
be part of the build-up to Glasgow 2026, I'd encourage everyone
to get involved. These free community events are a real
opportunity to get active, connect with others, and improve
wellbeing right across Scotland.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate what makes Scotland
unique on a truly global stage, and I want as many people as
possible to be part of it."
Gayle McPherson, Director of Legacy and Community Engagement at
Commonwealth Games Scotland, said:
“The King's Baton Relay is a special part of the build-up to
Glasgow 2026 and will connect communities across Scotland with
the excitement of a home Games. The baton itself carries the
message of a sustainable Games, made from reclaimed ash from a
Glasgow park by the traditional craftspeople at GalGael in Govan.
“The Scottish Government's support will help bring the relay to
towns, cities and island communities right across the country to
ensure everyone is part of the celebrations and provide fans with
the opportunity to show their support for Team Scotland as our
athletes make their final preparations for Glasgow 2026."
Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2026, said:
‘The King's Baton Relay heralds the arrival of the Games into
Scotland, with every Commonwealth nation and territory receiving
their own baton to celebrate Glasgow 2026 in their own unique
way.
‘This investment from Scottish Government to our partners at Team
Scotland builds on our collective commitment to a spectacular
summer of sport. We are excited to play our part in the journey
from 1 July as Commonwealth Games Scotland take the Baton to all
four corners of the country, showcasing Scotland to the world and
gathering communities together to celebrate and share in the
spirit of Glasgow 2026.'
Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Sport
said:
“The King's Baton Relay is such a special tradition of the
Commonwealth Games, bringing people together through sport,
shared values and a sense of connection across the Commonwealth.
“With the support of the Scottish Government, Scotland's leg will
inspire communities across the country and help shine a light on
our shared ambition to remove one million pieces of plastic from
Commonwealth waters.”
The KBR activation in Scotland will deliver free public events,
creating opportunities for communities and sports clubs the
length and breadth of the country to be part of the build-up to
Glasgow 2026.
The Scottish Government is also providing £15 million of
funding for sporting organisations to offer free, accessible
and inclusive physical activity opportunities to capitalise
on a “spectacular summer of sport”.
Background
Glasgow 2026 is projected to deliver a £150 million economic
benefit to Scotland, with no public funding required from the
Scottish Government for the core delivery of the event.
The KBR activation in Scotland runs from 1–23 July 2026. The
international relay route, which began on Commonwealth Day 2025,
is managed by Commonwealth Sport. Communities and sports
groups wishing to express an interest in hosting a KBR visit
should do so before the end of March 2026 - further information is available
here.
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