Clare Balding is set to miss out on presenting the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 Commonwealth Games for the first time in 20 years. It comes after the Beeb’s decision not to bid more in order to retain the rights for this summer’s Games, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The sporting event takes place over 11 days from July 23 to August 2. But the BBC has no rights to broadcast any of the Commonwealth Games, nor its highlights, for the first time since the 1950s. Live TV and digital media rights to the Games, last held in Birmingham in 2022, had already been won by TNT Sports after it outbid rivals, though it was expected that the BBC would still be sublicensed a free-to-air highlights package, including daily round-ups and evening highlights.
However, the BBC will not air the 2026 edition of the Games – including its highlights – this summer. Instead, free public access will be provided by Channel 5 in the form of these highlights. 5’s highlights show each evening will be hosted by broadcaster and former Olympic sprinter Jeanette Kwakye. Channel 5 will also broadcast the Opening Ceremony this Thursday live on air, as well as streaming.
The opening ceremony will be screened live under licence from TNT Sports, with which 5 is partnering to bring highlights to a free-to-air audience in the UK. This will complement TNT Sports’ coverage across its linear channels and streaming platform, HBO Max. Around 600 hours of live Commonwealth Games can be found on TNT Sports in the coming weeks.
It marks a major blow for Balding, 55, who first served as the main BBC television presenter for the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne 2006. She has gone on to anchor coverage at four Games since, alongside being the lead TV presenter for the Olympics since 2004.
Balding made her TV debut presenting highlights of Royal Ascot in 1995 before transitioning to presenting the broadcaster’s live sports coverage the following year. But, with the BBC failing to retain the rights to air the event, her incredible run presenting the Commonwealth Games has come to an end.
This blow to the BBC is the latest in a long line of setbacks. Priorities appear to have shifted within the corporation, which has been facing cuts. At one stage, The Open, live Formula 1 races and live Test Match cricket had a home on the BBC’s channels. However, director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski admitted earlier this year that they do not need to air live sport to stay relevant.
In March, the BBC confirmed they would not broadcast any of The Boat Race, with Times Radio taking the radio rights after Channel 4 took the TV rights. It also lost the live broadcasting rights to England’s matches in the men’s Six Nations.