Papau New Guineau is aiming to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026, the country’s president Vidhya Lakhan announced at the close of the Pacific Games in Port Moresby on Saturday. 

"Can Papua New Guinea host a Commonwealth Games?" he asked a cheering audience at the closing ceremony, adding “Yes, together we can!”

The Commonwealth Games is usually hosted in a single city, with only a small number of events hosted outside the city. 

Lakhan said a bid from Papua New Guinea would involve the rest of the nation more widely than in previous Commonwealth Games.

"Papua New Guinea must bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games here in Port Moresby, and at venues around the country," he said.

With the exception of Delhi in 2010 and Kuala Lumpur in 1998, Commonwealth Games have historically been hosted in the cities of the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. 

The South African city of Durban is set to be awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

Under the new leadership of David Grevemberg, the Commonwealth Games Federation is engaging with cities in the wider Commonwealth that are aspiring to host the Games. 

The Pacific Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event administered by the National Olympic Committees of the islands and territories of the Pacific community. 

David Grevemberg is speaking about “How Cities and Events Innovate to Thrive” at HOST CITY 2015 on November 9th and 10th in Glasgow.