The clock is ticking.
While in the middle of the 2025 international netball campaigns, and domestic pre-seasons in some parts of the world about to begin in earnest, there is little wiggle room on the gateway to Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games next year.
Unlike the Netball World Cup, qualification for the Commonwealth Games is a direct reflection of the highest-ranked nations, with the top twelve countries having now been confirmed.
Netball will again be one of the final medals to claim at the Commonwealth Games, which was a staple honour for the sport at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions.
Australia celebrate victory at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images.
The History
Australia, Barbados, England, Jamaica, New Zealand and South Africa are the only netball nations to have competed at every Commonwealth Games, since it was first included as a medal event in 1998 Kuala Lumpur.
However, the Bajan Gems have missed out on a Games berth for Glasgow, with their world ranking dropping to 19th.
There have been no countries from the Asia Region compete at a Commonwealth Games since India, who qualified as hosts, in 2010.
Who Will Play
Twelve nations, who must represent at least four Commonwealth Games Foundation regions, have qualified for the netball program.
This comprises the host nation, and the top 11 nations in the World Netball Rankings as of September 1 2025: Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa, Wales, Uganda, Malawi, Tonga, Scotland (as hosts), Trinidad & Tobago and Northern Ireland.
The 12 netball nations who will compete at the 2026 Glasgow Games.
The Venue
The Hydro at SEC will play host to all matches, where around 10,000 tickets are expected to be available for each session – and at least 210,000 in total.
For contrast, there were 97,984 tickets sold to the 2015 Netball World Cup in Sydney (a record for the event at the time), and over 112,000 to the Liverpool edition four years later.
In Glasgow’s bid for the 2014 Games, the Semi Finals and Gold and Bronze medal matches were destined for The Hydro. But after winning the right to host, organisers pivoted to use the 4,000-seat Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), the same venue for pool matches.
When tickets were released in August 2013, sessions sold out incredibly fast. By February, the Gold and Bronze medal matches were shifted to The Hydro, automatically doubling capacity.
Bigger Crowds
A similar story occurred for Birmingham in 2022. In the initial bid, presented in 2017, Coventry Arena was detailed as the netball venue, with seating for around 6,000 spectators. In July 2019 it was confirmed, before organisers shifted to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), again nearly doubling capacity, in early September.
Last year’s Netball Super League Grand Final at the O2 in London attracted 9,326 supporters – the biggest netball crowd in England since the final of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Awaiting the official capacity to be confirmed, anything less than a 10,000-seat availability at The Hydro, and the opportunity to set a new record netball event attendance, would be a waste.
The Games also present the first ever opportunity for the Scottish Thistles to play at The Hydro.
Image: Seating plan at The Hydro for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Category A to D seating.
The Program
The netball program will consist of 38 matches across 21 sessions, with the competing nations to be split into two Pools. There will be nine days of action, one day less than Birmingham.
Not since Kuala Lumpur will all 12 nations play on the opening day (in fact, the opening two days), making for a far more equitable schedule.
Each country will play five matches, and have a rest day, between Day 1 to 6. Classification matches for positions 5-12 will take place on Friday July 31, while the top four enjoy a further rest day ahead of their Semi Finals the following day.
The Gold and Bronze medals will be some of the last offered at the Games, on Sunday August 2.
Saturday July 25 | 3 sessions x 2 matches
Sunday July 26 | 3 sessions x 2 matches
Monday July 27 | 2 sessions x 2 matches
Tuesday July 28 | 2 sessions x 2 matches
Wednesday July 29 | 2 sessions x 2 matches
Thursday July 30 | 3 sessions x 2 matches
Friday July 31 | Classification matches x 2, Classification matches x 2.
Saturday August 1 | Semi Final 1 session, Semi Final 2 session
Sunday August 2 | Bronze medal session, Gold medal session + medal ceremony
The schedule will be finalised when the Pools are drawn.
Last Time
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Jamaica made their first Commonwealth Games final – redemption for the heartbreak four years prior on the Gold Coast, where the Sunshine Girls lost to England 56-55 in the Semi Final.
Standing in their way was Australia (who Jamaica beat for the first time at a Games in pool play), seeking to reverse their shock loss to England on home soil four years prior.
In a final for the ages, the Diamonds pulled away from 29-all at half time to a six-goal lead at the final change. Gretel Bueta starred with 37 goals at 100%, as the Aussies stood firm for their fourth gold medal in a 55-51 victory.
New Zealand produced a 17-goal reversal of their pool match result against England (54-44), to claim Bronze three days later (55-48). It left the Roses without a medal for the first time since 2014.
Broadcast Details
Australia (Seven, 7Plus)
New Zealand (Sky New Zealand)
Pacific Islands (Sky New Zealand)
England (BBC – expected)
South Africa (SuperSport – expected)
*More TBC
Tickets
General Public tickets have been on sale since October 30. Appears that the Gold Medal match is already sold out.
Events Travel are offering limited ticket and accommodation packages for Australian and New Zealand residents.
This article will be updated when the two pools have been defined, and further event information is confirmed.
