Less prestigious than the Olympics but much more of an occasion than the world championships of the various international governing bodies, the Commonwealth Games have their roots in the past but their eyes are on the future.
74 Commonwealth Games Association member states, spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Oceania, are participating in Glasgow 2026, many of whom are barely getting a glimpse of the world stage.
For example, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Eswatini, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are yet to win Olympic silverware, but they are strongly represented at the Olympics. 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei, Eswatini, Falkland Islands, Gabon, Gibraltar, Maldives, Montserrat, Rwanda, St Helena, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turks and Caicos Islands are eyeing their first Commonwealth Games silver medal in Scotland this summer.
It’s this lack of success that makes the event so special, so read on as we explain how to watch the Commonwealth Games for free in the UK.
Can you watch the Commonwealth Games for free in the UK?
Yes. S4C And BBC Alba each offer free coverage of the Commonwealth Games in the UK, with live streaming available via BBC iPlayer. However, the problem – and it is an important one – is that S4C and BBC Alba are Welsh and Gaelic language channels respectively.
Another free option is 5which broadcasts an evening highlights show.
Meanwhile, extensive free coverage of the Commonwealth Games is available in many countries around the world, with the best English options being 7More in Australia and The crown jewel of CBC in Canada.
In plain language ThreeNow in New Zealand is also live streaming some Glasgow 2026 events.
Spending time in the UK from Australia, Canada or New Zealand? You can use a VPN to watch the Commonwealth Games for free as if you were at home.
Use a VPN to watch any Commonwealth Games 2026 stream
A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear to be in your home country, so you can unblock your usual service. The best VPN at the moment? We recommend NordVPN – it does it all and offers up to 75% off.
Why isn’t the BBC showing the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games are broadcast on the BBC – but not in English. As explained above, Glasgow 2026 is broadcast for free on S4C in Welsh and BBC Alba in Gaelic.
Both channels can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.
English language rights to the Commonwealth Games are owned by TNT Sports, which requires a subscription, with the cheapest and most flexible option being HBO Max.
Plans start at £25.99 per month, with rolling subscriptions available at £30.99.
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