With just over two weeks to go until the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, anticipation is building not only for world-class sport but for the chance to experience one of Britain’s most vibrant and character-filled cities.
From 23 July to 2 August 2026, more than 3,000 athletes from 74 countries will compete across a packed schedule of events in Scotland’s largest city. With four venues set to host the action, Glasgow is once again ready to shine on the global stage following its standout success in 2014.
Major sporting events are a proven tourism draw for Britain attracting visitors who stay longer, spend more and explore more of its regions and nations. VisitBritain’s latest available research shows 2.2 million international annual visits to the UK include attendance at a live sporting event, generating £2.3 billion in visitor spending in total on those trips. Australian visitors are among the most passionate sports travellers. About 81,000 Australians annually attend a live sporting event during their trip to the UK, contributing approximately £100 million to the visitor economy.*
Kristen Angus, VisitBritain’s Country Manager for Australia & New Zealand, said, “With the countdown on, excitement is building for Glasgow 2026. More than a world-class sporting event, the Commonwealth Games are a celebration of diversity, excellence and shared values and a gold-media opportunity to showcase Glasgow’s energy, creativity and warm welcome to Aussie and Kiwi travellers.
“Sport is a powerful driver of travel. It inspires visitors to go further, stay longer and spend more, while connecting with local communities and discovering more of Britain,” she said.
But beyond the pool, track and pitch, Glasgow is a destination bursting with culture, history and personality. As the countdown to the Games continues, here are 10 reasons why Glasgow deserves a winning place on every travel list this year.
10 Reasons Glasgow should be your next holiday destination
- A global music capital – Glasgow was the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music, has more live music venues than any other UK city and is the birthplace of legendary artists like Mark Knopfler and members of AC/DC.
- A mythical mascot – Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn symbolising purity, strength and independence. You’ll spot it proudly displayed across Glasgow’s architecture, the royal coat of arms and is the official mascot of the Games.
- A traffic cone icon:It’s a long-running tradition for locals to place a traffic cone on the head of the Duke of Wellington statue and no matter how often it’s removed, it always comes back. An enduring symbol of the city’s irreverent humour.
- A must-visit foodie hotspot – Whether it’s street eats or Michelin-starred dining, Glasgow’s culinary scene is among Britain’s best and it even lays claim to have invented chicken tikka masala. It has won the Curry Capital of Britain award four times and is a place where you can eat your way from a £3 morning roll to a £140 tasting menu within the same postcode.
5 Older than dinosaurs: Glasgow is home to fossilised tree stumps that are around 330 million years old, twice as old as dinosaurs, in Fossil Grove.
- Meet the giants of Scotland– Just outside the city stand The Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures at 30 metres high, inspired by Scotland’s industrial heritage and mythical water spirits. They stand watch over the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal.
- City of parks:Glasgow is known as the “Dear Green Place” and is home to more than 90 parks and gardens, giving it one of the most extensive networks of urban green spaces in the UK.
- Ride the ‘Clockwork Orange’ – One of the oldest subway systems in the world, Glasgow’s underground, nicknamed the Clockwork Orange, has been running since 1896 and still runs on a simple circular loop.
- A Hollywood chameleon– Glasgow regularly doubles for other cities on screen thanks to its versatile architecture. The city has stood in for Gotham City in The Batman(2022), with scenes filmed in the Necropolis and has also featured in blockbusters such as World War Z, Fast & Furious 6 and Indiana Jones, often doubling as New York or other global cities.
- A design and creative hub – The city has produced renowned artists, designers and architects, including Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose work defines Glasgow’s unique style.
