Last reviewed: 5 June 2026
The BBC will not broadcast the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, ending an uninterrupted association with the event dating back to 1950. Live coverage has moved to TNT Sports, with free-to-air highlights on Channel 5.
## What happened to the BBC's rights? TNT Sports, owned by Warner Bros Discovery, secured the live broadcast rights to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Channel 5 acquired free-to-air highlights rights under a partnership agreement with TNT Sports. The BBC was outbid after holding the rights since the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. The Glasgow 2026 Games will be the first since 1950 not to appear on BBC television in any capacity. This follows a broader pattern of sporting rights losses for the BBC. The corporation also lost live England Six Nations rugby coverage in 2026 (now on ITV), and the Boat Race moved to Channel 4. ## How to watch the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
- Live coverage: TNT Sports (subscription required) and streaming via Max (HBO Max)
- Free highlights: Channel 5 (free to air)
- TNT Sports subscription cost: available through Sky, BT and direct streaming
- TNT Sports was exploring making some coverage available free-to-air - check current schedules
## About the Glasgow 2026 Games The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, which previously hosted the 2014 edition. Glasgow stepped in as host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew. Around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories are expected to compete. The Games will be the first Commonwealth Games since the accession of King Charles III as head of the Commonwealth. Notable British athletes expected to participate include Adam Peaty, Josh Kerr, Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith. Warner Bros Discovery also holds the Olympic Games broadcast rights for Europe until at least 2032, having acquired them from the International Olympic Committee in 2015.
