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On July 26, 2026, the WA Government announced that Western Australians will be able to watch the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games unfold on a big screen at Northbridge Piazza, while Perth also opens a pop-up exhibition marking the state’s own history as a Games host city.
Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said the Northbridge Piazza screen, which will broadcast selected events live from Glasgow until August 2, would give residents a central place to gather, pointing to the public turnout during the World Cup as a sign of what to expect, saying “Western Australians love getting behind our athletes, and Northbridge Piazza will be a great place to watch the action live from Glasgow.”
Western Australia has a strong presence at this year’s Games, with flag bearer Nina Kennedy, track and field competitor Peter Bol, swimmers Iona Anderson and Shayna Jack, and 2025 Para cycling world champions Kane Perris and Luke Zaccaria among those representing the state, and Saffioti added that the state has “an incredibly talented group” of athletes competing this year.
A short walk from the piazza, the WA Museum Boola Bardip has opened a pop-up exhibition in Hackett Hall celebrating Perth’s hosting of the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. According to the announcement, the display draws on the museum’s own collection as well as items loaned from the State Library of Western Australia and the State Records Office, including the original gold, silver and bronze medals designed by Frank Norton. Also on show is Trevor Bickle’s 1962 pole vault gold medal, along with competitors’ and officials’ badges, volunteer uniform items, opening ceremony tickets, souvenir programs and promotional material from the era.
Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk connected the exhibition to the current Games, saying “We’re also recognising the remarkable story of Perth’s own Games through this special exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip.” She said the display offers “a fascinating glimpse into a landmark chapter of our State’s history, showcasing treasured objects that capture the excitement, ambition and community spirit of the 1962 Games.”
McGurk pointed to the exhibition’s proximity to the piazza, calling it “the perfect complement to the live Games experience, connecting past and present through sport, history and culture,” and said the display is meant to resonate whether visitors “remember the 1962 Games firsthand or are discovering these stories for the first time.” Saffioti also linked the current Games to the exhibition, saying Perth’s hosting of the 1962 event “was a major moment in our State’s sporting history, and the exhibition is a great way to celebrate that legacy,” and encouraged residents to “wear their green and gold, head into Northbridge and get behind our athletes.”
The announcement follows last month’s commitment from the WA Government to provide $5,000 in direct financial assistance to Western Australian athletes selected for the Australian team, intended to help offset the costs of training, competition, study, work and everyday expenses in the lead up to the Games. The WA Government described the Northbridge Piazza broadcasts and the Boola Bardip exhibition as part of a broader push to diversify Western Australia’s economy and build connected communities through major sporting events.
