Glasgow Club Tollcross to reopen following multi-million-pound investment ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
The main pool at Glasgow Club Tollcross will reopen to the public on Thursday 30 April following refurbishment. The venue is ready to welcome the local community and, later this summer, the world’s best swimmers competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The work, part of Glasgow Life’s ongoing capital development programme was supported by £2.9 million from Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council and focused on pool and plant repairs, including re-tiling the main pool and refurbishing the pool filtration system.
An additional £850,000 from Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games venue readiness fund supported a wider upgrade of the main pool area specific to the delivery of the Games. This includes improvements to spectator seating, lighting, competition starting blocks and the video board, which are permanent legacy items, gifted to the venue as part of Glasgow 2026's long-term investment in Glasgow's sporting future.
Together the upgrades have restored one of Scotland's most iconic aquatic venues to full international standard ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Operated by Glasgow Life, Tollcross International Swim Centre has long been one of the city’s key swimming venues. The centre regularly welcomes over 1,000 recreational and club swimmers each day, serving as both a community hub for staying active and a destination for major national and international competitions.
The reopening marks an important moment for the local community, with swimmers, clubs and families able to return to the pool in advance of the international spotlight returning to the city. It also provides an opportunity for local people to experience a world-class facility that will soon host elite athletes competing at the highest level.
Originally opened in 1997, Tollcross has become a key part of the city’s sporting infrastructure. Over the years, thousands of people have learned to swim, stayed active and socialised there. The venue has also hosted major competitions, showcasing athletes from across the world performing at the highest level.
Tollcross International Swim Centre was a key venue during the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where athletes from across the Commonwealth competed in front of record crowds and delivered a host of memorable achievements. Scottish swimmers excelled, including Ross Murdoch and Hannah Miley, who won gold medals with outstanding performances in front of a home crowd.
As Glasgow prepares to host the Games once again this July, a new generation of Scottish and Commonwealth swimmers will compete on the same stage. Athletes will race in a fully refurbished pool, aiming to create more extraordinary moments.
Duncan Scott OBE, multi Olympic and Commonwealth medallist said: “Tollcross International Swimming Centre has played such an important role in Glasgow’s sporting story, so it’s fantastic to see it reopening ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. High‑quality local swimming facilities like this are vital – not just for elite athletes, but for grassroots participation, community health and inspiring the next generation. Continued investment from the local authority, alongside Glasgow Life’s long‑standing commitment to maintaining and improving these venues, makes a real difference and shows how seriously the city takes sport and physical activity.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Tollcross back in full use and to experiencing the incredible atmosphere here this summer. This is something fans won’t want to miss, and I can’t wait to hear the home crowd cheering us on here in Glasgow.”
George Hunter, Director of Libraries, Sport and Physical Activity and Communities at Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow Club Tollcross is a much-loved facility at the heart of its community, and we are delighted to be reopening the pool following this important programme of work.
“Local people will continue to benefit from a high-quality space to swim, train and stay active, while later this summer Tollcross will once again welcome some of the world’s best swimmers for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow 2026 added: "Tollcross is a flagship venue for the Games and an iconic part of Scotland's national sporting infrastructure. We are proud that this world-class Glasgow Life community facility will be at the heart of the Games and a feature of the international sporting calendar.
"This £850,000 investment, that has been made possible thanks to Commonwealth Sport, will strengthen this key facility for the long-term benefit of Glasgow. Upgrades to the seating stands and pool ensure the venue is ready to host some of the best swimmers and Para swimmers in the world this summer, while the new starting blocks, video board and lighting will remain as permanent additions to Tollcross, ensuring a lasting contribution to the city's sporting future.”
Tollcross will close again to the public in mid-July ahead of the Games with the exact dates due to be announced shortly, along with those for Scotstoun, Glasgow International Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome which are also Glasgow 2026 competition venues.