The curtain has officially come down on the Commonwealth Games, but the broadcast figures for its grand finale tell a dramatic story of shifting television audiences.
Just 100,000 viewers tuned in last night to watch the Closing Ceremony broadcast live on TNT and HBO MAX. Despite a high-energy, celebratory show anchored by legendary Scottish rock band Simple Minds—who brought the arena to its feet with iconic anthems including “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”—the exclusive pay-TV broadcast struggled to capture a mass audience.
A Steep Drop From 2022
The 100,000-viewer figure marks a sharp decline compared to the previous edition of the Games in 2022. During the Birmingham Games closing event, more than 2 million viewers tuned in to watch the live coverage broadcast free-to-air on the BBC.
The contrast highlights the dramatic impact of moving the live coverage behind a paywall for this year’s event. As part of the wider broadcast deal aimed at keeping the event accessible to terrestrial viewers, highlight packages of each day’s competition were aired on Channel 5 in a late-night slot.
Here is an overview of the final standings and key highlights from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow:
2026 Commonwealth Games Final Medal Table (Top 10)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Australia | 70 | 45 | 56 | 171 |
| 2 | England | 29 | 45 | 36 | 110 |
| 3 | Canada | 19 | 20 | 23 | 62 |
| 4 | India | 13 | 17 | 9 | 39 |
| 5 | Scotland (Host) | 13 | 9 | 17 | 39 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 10 | 14 | 12 | 36 |
| 7 | Nigeria | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| 8 | South Africa | 10 | 4 | 5 | 19 |
| 9 | Wales | 9 | 10 | 12 | 31 |
| 10 | Malaysia | 8 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
Key Takeaways
- Australia Dominates: Australia once again sat comfortably atop the overall medal table, winning 70 gold medals and 171 total medals.
- England & Canada Claim Top Three: England finished second with 110 medals (29 gold), while Canada secured third place overall with 62 medals (19 gold).
- India Edges Scotland for Fourth: India and host nation Scotland finished tied on 39 total medals, but India secured 4th place on the table due to winning more silver medals (17 vs. 9).
- Historic Milestone: South African swimmer Chad Le Clos became the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history during these games, bringing his career total to 21 medals.
Looking Ahead to 2030
As the ceremonial flag was formally handed over, attention now shifts to the future of the multi-sport event. The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in India in four years’ time (2030), where organizers will be hoping to rebuild linear TV audiences and bring the global party back to peak viewing figures.
Take 65% off a box of food from Gousto! Click here to claim your discount.
