Alongside swimming and boxing, athletics is one of only three sports to have featured at every edition of the Commonwealth Games.

And after being an exhibition sport in 1994, para athletics has been fully integrated since 2002.

In that time, 883 gold medals have been won in both disciplines, with Team England’s haul of 202 good enough for second in the all-time table, just four shy of Australia, who currently lead the way on 206.

With 59 gold medals up for grabs at Glasgow 2026, that list could well have a new leader come 2 August.

Here’s all you need to know about Athletics and Para Athletics at this summer’s Games.

Where is athletics and para athletics taking place at Glasgow 2026?

The athletics and para athletics programme will take place at Scotstoun Stadium, the venue which served as a training facility during the Games held in the city 12 years ago.

Many of the world’s top track and field stars will descend upon the home of rugby union side Glasgow Warriors, which has temporarily had its capacity increased to 11,000.

Notable differences to the programme see the Mile replace the 1500m and the presence of only the 4x400 mixed relay, with no men's and women's 4x400m relays.

There are set to be para events in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, long jump, shot put and discus, while the addition of music being played is expected to help create a brilliant atmosphere.

What are the dates for athletics and para athletics at Glasgow 2026?

With the Games taking place between 23 July and 2 August, the athletics and para athletics programme begins on 27 July – Day 4 of the Games - at 10am and finishes on 1 August.

The men’s and women’s 100m heats will take place during the opening session, as well as the men’s 400m hurdles and long jump and the women’s hammer throw and high jump.

Gold medals will be handed out on each of the six days of competition with the men’s and women’s 100m final on the evening of 28 July, whilst 1 August will see 19 Commonwealth champions crowned.

Team England’s history

Team England may be four short of top spot in terms of the amount of overall gold medals won, but in every other metric, they lead the way.

Since 1930, they have won a total of 612 track and field medals, 93 clear of nearest rivals Australia, while their haul of 215 silvers and 195 bronzes are comfortably at the top of those respective lists.

Team England have been the leading athletics nation on ten occasions, one ahead of Australia, but you’ll have to go back to 2002 for the last time England were the best in class.

In Manchester 24 years ago, the host nation topped the charts with 12 golds and 29 medals overall.

In the five editions since, Australia (three times) and Kenya (twice) have topped the athletics and para athletics medal tables with England’s best finish since 2002 being second last time out in Birmingham.

It was in England’s second city in which the hosts won eight golds with Jona Efoloko, Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Ojie Edoburun winning the men’s 4 x 100m and Nick Miller topping the podium in the hammer throw.

Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker (100m - T47), Nathan Maguire (1500m T54), Johnboy Smith (Marathon T54) and Hannah Cockroft (100m T34) all won gold in their respective events while Katarina Johnson-Thompson won her second Commonwealth title and Asha Philip, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Daryll Neita matched their male counterparts in the 4x100m relay.

Who is competing for Team England

Team England boast a hugely talented 63-strong squad, including Olympic and world medallists.

Zharnel Hughes returns in the 200m having won silver in 2022, while world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt will contest the 100m in Glasgow.

Birmingham bronze medallist Ben Pattison goes again in the 800m, where he is joined by teammate Max Burgin as both eye the British record.

Georgia Hunter Bell is eyeing a maiden Commonwealth crown in the 800m after winning world silver in Tokyo, while Jazmin Sawyers returns in the long jump for her fourth Games.

Kimani Jack and Morgan Lake will both hope to challenge in the men's and women's high jump, while Ben East arrives at his first Games in brilliant form in the javelin.