2026 Commonwealth Games in doubt after Victoria cancels over spiralling costs 

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are in doubt after spiralling costs have forced the Australian state of Victoria to pull out. 

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host before Victoria volunteered in April 2022. 

But the premier said the projected cost had now tripled and become “well and truly too much” for the state to bear.

CGF called the decision “hugely disappointing” and said it is “committed to finding a solution”.

The Games are a multisport tournament that take place every four years. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said Victoria had been “happy to help out” when approached to host last year, but “not at any price”.

Organisers had originally estimated the event – hosted across cities including Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat – would cost A$2.6bn (£1.4bn; $1.8bn) and the state government had billed it as a boost for the regions.

But now the 12-day tournament was expected to cost more than A$6 billion, Mr Andrews said, adding that the new figure was “more than twice the estimated economic benefit” it would bring to Victoria.

“I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them,” he told a press conference.

“That is all cost and no benefit.”