The Australian state of Victoria will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games across four regional hubs in a break from the traditional single-city model, the government said on Tuesday.
With no other country outside Australia making a bid, Victoria was granted an exclusive negotiating period to secure the Games in February.
“It’s a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games — we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said. Victoria’s capital Melbourne hosted the 2006 Games and will stage the 2026 opening ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but the sports events will be spread far and wide.
Each of the regional hubs in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland will have their own athletes’ village.
Geelong will host swimming, gymnastics, beach volleyball and other sports. Ballarat and Bendigo — goldfield cities in central Victoria — will have athletics, boxing, netball, squash and weightlifting.
