Braille Featured in 2026 Commonwealth Games Medals

For the first time, the 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature Braille on their medals. This marks an effort to ensure inclusivity for visually impaired fans and competitors alike. The Braille on the medals will let competitors know what medal they have been awarded, whether it be bronze, silver, or gold.

Designed by the artist Militsa Milenkova, the medal’s unique triangle shape was inspired by Glasgow’s symbol, a coat of arms. To make everyone feel welcome, the medals feature Braille, a system of raised dots that blind people use to read. They can read the words by touch, ciphering the meaning of the dots that they feel. Milenkova says, “I wanted to make inclusion tangible; I’m so proud that the design is tactile and accessible with details expressed in braille on the prize medal for the very first time.” This year, there will be at most 1168 medals given from 215 games.

It’s the first time that the Commonwealth Games have featured Braille, but other sporting events have used medals with Braille before. The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics are two recent examples. The first ever sporting event medal featuring Braille was the 1976 Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Since then, many sporting events across the world still feature Braille on their medals in an effort to be more inclusive of blind athletes and fans.

About 3000 people from 74 nations will compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games this summer. There will be 10 events and 6 para events, making it one of the few sport competitions that has the two types of events competing together. Excitement is building as July approaches!