By Joe Apu
Nigeria will host the King’s Baton Relay from June 15 to 18, 2025, as part of a global tour leading up to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The event, organised under the auspices of Commonwealth Sport and Commonwealth Games Nigeria, marks a significant moment in the build-up to the Games.
In a historic first, all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories have been issued individual batons to decorate and personalise, offering each country the opportunity to showcase its distinct cultural heritage. The King’s Baton has already arrived in Nigeria ahead of its scheduled celebration.
Traditionally, the baton carries a message from the monarch calling for unity and friendly competition among the Commonwealth nations—akin to the Olympic Torch Relay. Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the relay has been renamed in honour of King Charles III, who now serves as Patron of Commonwealth Sport.
His Majesty officially launched the first Commonwealth Sport King’s Baton Relay for the 2026 Games on Commonwealth Day, March 10, 2025, at Buckingham Palace. The relay began its global journey on March 11, starting in the Caribbean.
Africa is the second region to receive the relay, with Nigeria among the countries hosting the baton as it travels the continent for six days. For the first time, the baton design process is decentralised—each country is invited to customise their baton to reflect local culture, moving away from the previously uniform, museum-style batons.
In Nigeria, a joint committee comprising the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the National Sports Commission will decorate the baton. The initiative aligns with the relay’s renewed focus on environmental and financial sustainability under a reimagined Commonwealth Games model.
The 2025 edition of the King’s Baton Relay is also accompanied by the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, a collaborative effort between Commonwealth Sport and the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS). The campaign promotes awareness of plastic pollution and aims to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waters. It encourages athletes and communities alike to adopt sustainable practices, making the relay both a celebration of sport and a vehicle for environmental action.
The King’s Baton will be formally presented to His Majesty King Charles III during the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 26, 2026.