In early November, the karate of the Commonwealth gathers in Scotland. From 5 to 8 November 2026, Glasgow will host the 12th Commonwealth Karate Championships, organised by Karate Scotland under the banner of the Commonwealth Karate Federation, with more than 30 Commonwealth nations expected on the tatami of the Glasgow International Arena, the venue formerly known as the Emirates Arena. Four days of competition, two very different championships under one roof, and a programme that runs from national-team title bouts to the first steps of children in competition: Glasgow is preparing an edition that reflects the whole breadth of the sport.
Two championships in one
The event is built in two distinct halves. On 5 and 6 November, the Elite Championships are reserved for national federations: entry is by federation nomination only, the Commonwealth titles in kata and kumite are at stake, and the competition follows WKF rules. On 7 and 8 November, the Club Championships take over, open to any club or individual affiliated to a WKF-recognised Commonwealth nation, without the need for a national nomination, with entries made through the national federations on Sportdata.
The club weekend is where the event shows its breadth. The categories listed in the official bulletin start with children's kata from the age of seven and go all the way to veterans' divisions for athletes aged 35 and over, with para-kata categories also on the programme, covering physical, visual and intellectual impairment sport classes. Few championships put so many generations of karateka in the same hall over the same weekend.
Words of welcome
The official forewords set the tone. "Over the years, the Commonwealth Karate Championships has become a key event for the development and strengthening of karate across Commonwealth nations," writes WKF President Antonio Espinós, who describes Glasgow as "a city with a tremendous sporting tradition and a deep appreciation for Karate". For the hosts, Paul Giannandrea, Chairperson and President of Karate Scotland, calls the event "both an honour and a recognition of our ongoing efforts to promote karate", a platform "for nurturing budding karate talent in Scotland and indeed the Commonwealth nations".
Congress and civic welcome on 4 November
The championships begin before the first bout. On Wednesday 4 November, delegates will meet for the CKF Congress at Trades Hall Glasgow, before a civic reception at Glasgow City Chambers in George Square, hosted by the Lord Provost of Glasgow. The weekend will close on Sunday 8 November with a farewell party at Celtic Park.
An arena with Commonwealth history
The choice of venue carries its own symbolism. The Glasgow International Arena, on London Road, was one of the venues of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Twelve years after those Games, the Commonwealth returns to the same hall, this time in karategi.
Entries closed, tickets on sale
For the athletes, the deadline has passed: the closing date for entries and fee payments was 11 October 2026, and the detailed competition schedule was to be fixed once registrations closed and athlete numbers were known. For spectators, tickets are sold through the official Karate Scotland Events ticket office, with lower prices online in advance than at the door. The event bulletin published in April listed a day pass at £10 and a four-day pass at £25. Glasgow therefore offers an affordable way to follow, over four days, both the Commonwealth's best national teams and the clubs that feed them.
The thread from Birmingham
Glasgow continues a series that karate.news already covered in 2022, when the 10th Commonwealth Karate Championships were held in Birmingham with the same two-part formula of a federation championship followed by an open club championship. Four years later, the format has kept its logic, and Scotland now takes its turn to host the karate family of the Commonwealth.
Image: official event poster
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