2026 King's Baton Relay to start on Island this weekend

Five-day event coming to Manx shores ahead of 2026 Commonwealth Games

Ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the King's Baton Relay arrives on the Isle of Man this weekend.

Running from this Saturday (13 June) until next Thursday (18 June), the relay will see the baton travel around Manx shores, visiting a variety of different organisations and communities.

As well as visiting iconic Isle of Man landmarks including the Laxey Wheel and Rushen Abbey, charities including the RNLI, Project 21 and Beach Buddies will also be involved.

President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, Basil Bielich, says he's proud of how this event is coming together and is excited to see what Island athletes can achieve at the games this summer:

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place in Glasgow from Thursday, 23 July to Sunday, 2 August.

The King's Baton Relay is an event which traditionally takes place in the weeks and months leading up to the latest games and visits all 74 Commonwealth nations or territories on its route.

In a change this year, instead of one baton passing from one nation to another, each territory has been given its own baton to customise with all of them to then be united at the 2026 opening ceremony in the Scottish city.

For the Isle of Man, the baton has been designed by local artist, Lesley Sleight and features a number of themes associated with the Island including the Laxey Wheel, Castle Rushen and Tynwald Hill.

You can view the full schedule for the 2026 King's Baton Relay on the Isle of Man below:

2026 King's Baton Relay (Saturday, 13 June - Thursday, 18 June)

Saturday, 13 June

10am to 12pm - A celebration of the Isle of Man as the only whole nation Biosphere (INVITATION ONLY) - Curraghs Wildlife Park

1pm to 2pm - Visit to Southern Vintage Engine and Tractor Club - Doctor's Meadow, Castletown

3pm to 4pm - Isle of Man Lawn Bowls competition - Onchan Park

4.15pm to 5.30pm - Isle of Man Swimming Gala - NSC Pool, Douglas 

Sunday, 14 June

7.30am to 9.45am - Manx Middle Distance Triathlon - Mooragh Park, Ramsey

10am to 10.45am - Visit to RNLI - Ramsey Lifeboat Station 

10.45am to 12pm - RNLI lifeboat trip from Ramsey to Peel - Ramsey to Peel by sea

12pm to 2pm - Beach Buddies Beach Clean contributing to the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign - Peel Beach

Monday, 15 June

12.30pm to 1.30pm - Visit to University College Isle of Man (UCM) - University College Isle of Man

6pm to 8pm - Celebrating the charities involved in Project 21 with their own version of the Commonwealth Games - Centre 21, Douglas

Tuesday, 16 June

5.30pm to 6.15pm - Visit to RL360 Youth Cycling - Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway, Douglas

6.30pm to 8pm - Lieutenant Governor's reception honouring all previous Commonwealth athletes that have represented Team Isle of Man - Government House, Onchan

Wednesday, 17 June 

10am to 10.30am - Douglas Horse Tram celebrates 150 years - Douglas Promenade

10.30am to 11.15am - Journey on Manx Electric Railway - Douglas to Laxey

11.30am to 12.30pm - Visit to Laxey Wheel - Laxey

4pm to 4.30pm - Weightlifting with Team Isle of Man athlete, Alfie Bezance - Sports Institute Gym, Douglas

4.30pm to 5pm - A visit to Sport Aid Academy athletes - NSC track/Sports Institute

5pm to 7pm - Isle of Man Athletics track competition - NSC track

Thursday, 18 June 

11am until 12pm - Rushen Abbey Heritage Site visit with primary schools from the south (Arbory, Ballasalla, Rushen, Phurt Le Moirrey, Victoria Road) - Rushen Abbey, Ballasalla