The King’s Baton Relay for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has been reinvented to suit a new era, marking a milestone in the history of the event. For the first time, each of the 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will receive their own Baton, proudly designed and manufactured in Glasgow, allowing each country to customize it to reflect their culture, creativity and vision.
THE RELAY LAUNCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
His Majesty King Charles III of England, Patron of Commonwealth Sport, officially launched the King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day this Monday. During the ceremony, His Majesty placed his message to the Commonwealth on the first Baton, which was handed to the first bearer, Sir Chris Hoy, starting the relay with 500 days to go until the opening ceremony of Glasgow 2026.
The event was attended by prominent Baton bearers including Sammi Kinghorn MBE, Paralympic and Commonwealth medalist; Keiran Healy, Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics volunteer; and Gabriella Wood, Olympic and Commonwealth judoka from Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, two-time Commonwealth judo gold medalist Sarah Adlington and Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox OBE were also part of the celebration.
AN INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE RELAY
The King’s Baton Relay 2026 introduces an innovative and sustainable format. Instead of the traditional Baton handovers between countries, each nation and territory will receive its own Baton, eliminating the need for costly and polluting travel. This allows local communities to organize unique activities and celebrate the handover in a personalized way, showcasing the cultural diversity of the Commonwealth.
The Batons, simpler than previous editions, can be decorated by artists, athletes or schools, allowing each country to highlight its cultural identity. This approach not only reduces environmental impact, but also encourages community involvement and creativity.
THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION
For the first time, the King’s Baton Relay includes a sustainability initiative in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society: the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics campaign. This program seeks to prevent one million pieces of plastic from reaching Commonwealth waters by promoting beach and ocean cleanups in every nation and territory.
Dr. Linda Yueh CBE, chief executive of the Royal Commonwealth Society, noted that “the UN has identified plastic as the most harmful form of ocean pollution, and the Commonwealth, with nearly half of its members being small island states, is disproportionately affected. This campaign not only addresses current plastic pollution, but also encourages long-term behavior change.”
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
The relay begins this Tuesday in the Caribbean, with Trinidad and Tobago as the first destination. From there, the Baton will travel through Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe, culminating at the opening ceremony in Glasgow 2026 on July 23, 2026. This will be the longest relay in the history of the Commonwealth Games, with each nation having up to six days to organize activities and celebrations.
Chris Jenkins, chairman of Commonwealth Sport, said he is “delighted that His Majesty The King is launching a reinvented relay for this new era, connecting the Commonwealth and celebrating culture, diversity and a sustainable future. This relay not only unites our communities, but also celebrates our athletes, past, present and future.”
UNITY AND FAIR PLAY
The King’s Baton Relay will culminate with the gathering of the 74 Batons at the Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony, where His Majesty The King will read his message to Commonwealth athletes, marking the official start of the Games.
