The 2026 Commonwealth Games begin today (July 23) in Glasgow, but some fans across the Commonwealth have questioned whether enough people even knew the event was taking place.
The sporting event will run for 11 days until the closing ceremony on August 2, bringing thousands of athletes from across the Commonwealth to venues around Glasgow.
However, despite the games officially getting underway, some social media users have claimed there has been a lack of awareness and promotion surrounding this year's event.
Scaled-back games after Australia withdrawal
The 2026 Games were originally set to take place in the Australian state of Victoria, with Melbourne due to act as the host city. However, after Australia withdrew from hosting following concerns over rising costs, Glasgow stepped in to host a scaled-back version of the event.
Despite the return of a major multi-sport event, some social media users have questioned why there appears to be little public excitement or awareness ahead of the opening ceremony.
Social media reaction
One TikTok user, Australian creator @emmamaree, shared her surprise after realising the games were taking place this year, admitting she had not heard much about the event despite Australia originally being due to host.
In the video she said: "Did you guys know that the Commonwealth Games are on this year? Cause I honestly had no idea. I never even thought about it and anyone that I asked had no idea."
The video sparked a discussion in the comments, with several users admitting they had also forgotten about the games or had only recently realised they were happening. One comment read: "This year to be honest I forgot all about them," while another simply stated: "I forgot they were a thing last time I heard about them was like 2002 for some primary school project."
Broadcasting and promotion concerns
And the TikTok discussion appears to reflect a wider feeling online, with several X users claiming the games have struggled to capture the public's attention before they begin.
One person suggested the broadcasting deal could be behind the lack of awareness, posting: "The Commonwealth Games starts in a few days in Glasgow, yet you'd hardly know it. I haven't seen any real public discussion or reference. Moving the broadcast from the BBC to TNT Sports/HBO has stripped away much of the shared national attention."
Another person said that despite the games being held in Scotland's biggest city, there was little indication the event was about to begin. They wrote: "I appreciate the Commonwealth Games are majorly slimmed-down but even today (with days to go) you could make your way through most of the main tourist parts of the city and have no idea they’re imminent."
Others suggested the reduced scale of the competition and lack of promotion had contributed to the lower levels of excitement, with one user penning: "The Commonwealth Games haven’t had much promotion this year, even if it’s a reduced version."
While another user made a tongue-in-cheek comparison with the World Cup, stating: "After the FIFA World Cup, the Commonwealth Games feels a bit like having a warm flat beer."
