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Australia dominated the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, finishing first with 70 gold medals and 171 medals overall to extend its reputation as the Games’ most successful nation.
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England and Canada completed the top three on the medals table, while athletes from 74 nations competed across 10 sports during the 11-day event in Scotland.
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Nigeria emerged as Africa’s highest-ranked country, finishing seventh overall with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals despite competing in fewer sports than previous editions.
Aug 04, (THEWILL) — Australia once again proved why it remains the dominant force in Commonwealth sport after topping the medals table at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with an outstanding haul of 70 gold, 45 silver and 56 bronze medals, giving the nation a remarkable 171 medals overall.
The Australians finished comfortably ahead of England, which secured second place with 29 gold, 45 silver and 36 bronze medals, while Canada rounded out the top three with 19 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze medals.
The Games, held across four venues in Glasgow, featured around 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories competing in 10 sports over 11 days. A total of 1,168 medals, including 141 in Para events, were awarded, with 41 countries winning at least one medal.
Australia’s commanding performance was built on consistent excellence across multiple disciplines, further strengthening its status as the Commonwealth Games’ most successful nation. England maintained its tradition of finishing among the leading teams, while Canada produced another impressive campaign to secure third place.
The 2026 edition also showcased several memorable moments beyond the battle for the top of the medals table. Para athletes delivered outstanding performances, with England’s Thomas Young and Sophie Hahn among the standout stars, while India celebrated its best-ever Commonwealth Games Para campaign by winning seven medals.
Organisers also hailed Glasgow’s streamlined format as a success after stepping in to rescue the Games when Australia’s state of Victoria withdrew as the original host. The compact schedule and reduced number of sports ensured the event was delivered successfully while preserving the future of the Commonwealth Games.
Nigeria Ends as Africa’s Best
While Australia celebrated another historic triumph, Nigeria finished seventh overall to emerge as Africa’s highest-ranked nation at Glasgow 2026.
Team Nigeria ended the Games with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, a total of 24 medals. Although the gold tally was one fewer than the country’s record 11 gold medals at Birmingham 2022, officials described the campaign as a major success given that several sports in which Nigeria traditionally excels, including wrestling and table tennis, were not part of the programme.
One of Nigeria’s biggest highlights came from para powerlifting legend Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who broke her own world record by lifting 175kg to successfully defend her Commonwealth title.
Athletics also produced historic achievements. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi finally captured his first Commonwealth Games gold in the men’s shot put with a championship-winning throw of 21.07 metres, while Nathaniel Ezekiel became the first Nigerian ever to win the men’s 400m hurdles title.
Samuel Ogazi added another gold in the men’s 400m, continuing his breakthrough season after setting a new Nigerian record earlier in the year. Young stars also impressed, with Jessica Oji claiming a historic silver medal in the women’s shot put and Ella Onojuvwevwo earning bronze in the women’s 400m.
There were, however, moments of disappointment. World record holder Tobi Amusan settled for bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles after battling a toe injury, while sprint sensation Kanyinsola Ajayi, who entered the Games among the favourites, finished with bronze despite leading the field into Glasgow with one of the fastest times of the season.
Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board Chairman Yusuf Alli praised Team Nigeria’s overall performance, crediting improved preparation, better athlete welfare and timely payment of bonuses and allowances for the encouraging results.
As the curtain fell on Glasgow 2026, Australia once again stood alone at the summit of the Commonwealth Games with 70 gold medals and 171 medals overall. Nigeria, meanwhile, left Scotland with renewed confidence after finishing as Africa’s top-performing nation, highlighting the country’s growing depth of talent ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
