AFTER much upheaval and uncertainty, some more certainty has been given around the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Set to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2 2026, it will be a scaled down event, with only 10 sports running.

Luckily for netball, it is one of the events that survived the cull, and will run alongside athletics and para athletics, swimming and para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, lawn bowls and para bowls, 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball.

The restructure means major sports that have been staples of the Games for a long time like diving, hockey and rugby will not feature in Glasgow. Cricket also did not survive the cull.

As a non-Olympic sport, this decision is particularly important for sports like netball, which would only have the World Cup as its sold worldwide tournament if not for the Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games have always been a happy hunting ground for the Australian Diamonds, having won either Gold or Silver at every Games since Netball was first included in 1998.

The Diamonds head to Glasgow as the defending champions, and will be looking to repeat the performance of 2018 in two years time.

Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Netball Australia Stacey West spoke of the delight around netball continuing to be a Commonwealth Games Sport.

“Netball Australia and the Origin Australian Diamonds are thrilled that the Commonwealth Games Federation has included netball in the program of events for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” West said.

“The top netball nations are all Commonwealth countries, and this decision shows the depth and strength of our sport.

“With four gold medals since 1998, Australia is the most successful netball nation at the Commonwealth Games, and the Games are such a special event for all netball-lovers. Our Origin Australian Diamonds will be ready to defend their title.

“With more than one million participants, netball continues to be one of the most popular sports in Australia, so we are proud to see this reflected in the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“This also presents an important opportunity for netball to continue to build its global profile in the lead up to the 2027 World Cup in Sydney.”