2026 Commonwealth Games: Qualification System defined for Weightlifting

The IWF recently published the Qualification System for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, in which weightlifting is one of the 10 sports on the programme of the competition. The upcoming edition will take place in Glasgow (Scotland) from July 23 to August 2, and a quota of 176 lifters (88 men and 88 women) is available for the IWF.

The qualification will include four pathways: 1. Automatic qualification for the host (Scotland), 2. Direct qualification through the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships (to be held in August 2025 in India); 3. Qualification through a ranking, based on a list of competitions held from June 1, 2025 through May 18, 2026; 4. Bipartite invitation.

Each of the eight bodyweight categories for both men and women will be contested by a maximum of 11 lifters, with most of the athletes (128) being selected through the ranking during the qualification period. The host will be able to automatically enter 16 lifters (one per category), the direct qualification will bring another 16 athletes (the winners in each of the medal events at the Commonwealth Championships) and the final 16 competitors will be in Glasgow after receiving a bipartite invitation (aimed at nations not previously qualified through phases 1-3).

The IWF World Championships, to be held in October 2025 in Forde (NOR), will be the only IWF-owned event qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. Continental events during the qualification period will also contribute to the establishment of the ranking.

Weightlifting was included in the programme of the Commonwealth Games in 1950, and has been since then always present in the event. The Commonwealth Games Federation has 74 member nations and territories in the five continents.   

The 2026 Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Qualification System is available here