A 116-strong New Zealand Team has been confirmed for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with athletes set to represent Aotearoa across 10 sports in Scotland next month.
The team brings together a mix of experienced international competitors and first-time Games athletes, reflecting the depth and diversity of New Zealand sport.
New Zealand Team Chef de Mission Nigel Avery says the naming of the full team marks an important milestone as preparations ramp up for the Games.
The team includes 65 women and 51 men, with an average age of 27.7. Auckland is the most represented region, making up one third of the team, followed by Waikato and Canterbury.
The Glasgow-bound team includes athletes from a wide range of backgrounds, including Cook Islands, Samoan and Tongan representation.
Māori athletes make up 13.5 percent of the team, adding to the strong cultural identity carried by the New Zealand Team on the Commonwealth stage.
For many athletes, Glasgow will be their first opportunity to wear the fern at a major multi-sport event. For others, it will be another chapter in long and successful sporting careers.
Sixty-three athletes will make their Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, while more than a third of the team are returning for their second Games or more.
Gymnast Sienna Shields is the youngest member of the team, having recently turned 18, while lawn bowls athlete Julie O’Connell is the oldest at 67 years and four months.
At the experienced end of the team, gymnast Misha Koudinov will compete at his sixth Commonwealth Games.
Lawn bowls athletes Shannon McIlroy and Ali Forsyth will attend their fifth Games, while Para Bowls athlete Mark Noble and shot put star Tom Walsh will each make their fourth Commonwealth Games appearance.
Avery says that mix of experience and fresh energy will be a strength for the New Zealand campaign.
Glasgow 2026 will feature 10 sports, including six integrated Para sports, with more than 200 gold medals on offer across 10 days of competition.
The Games will run from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026.
New Zealand athletes will compete in artistic gymnastics, athletics, Para athletics, basketball 3×3, boxing, lawn bowls, Para bowls, judo, netball, swimming, Para swimming, track cycling, Para track cycling and weightlifting.
For the athletes selected, the announcement marks the beginning of the final countdown to competition.
The Commonwealth Games remains one of the most important stages for New Zealand athletes, offering the chance to compete against some of the best from across the Commonwealth while representing Aotearoa on the international stage.
With a team that blends youth, experience, Māori and Pacific representation, and strong regional diversity, New Zealand will head to Glasgow with pride, ambition and a strong sense of purpose.
