Hopes that Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, would step in as hosts for the 2026 Commonwealth Games have ended after state premier Steven Marshall said he is not interested in staging the event, despite a recent report showing it would deliver an economic boost to the region.

Earlier this month, Commonwealth Games Australia pushed for Adelaide to reconsider a bid for the games by publishing a PwC report claiming it could boost the local economy by A$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion) after South Australian officials announced last year they would not bid for the event. 

However, over the weekend, Ben Houston, the CGA president, told the Adelaide Advertiser: “Despite the widespread support for a Commonwealth Games bid, we have received confirmation from the premier that the government is not interested in pursuing a Commonwealth Games for Adelaide.

“We are disappointed, the new delivery model and the significant community benefits of a Games would bring tremendous economic benefit to the host city, something South Australians recognised.”

The Commonwealth Games Federation had also actively pushed a potential bid from Adelaide due to increasing doubts over whether Hamilton, Canada will be able to take their bid forward.

The Canadian city is currently the only candidate to bid and was primed to be awarded the event unopposed but the campaign last month was informed by the Ontario Government that they will not support a bid due to a clash with soccer’s Fifa World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico.

Houston added he would not rule out another bid and would continue to engage with other Australian states who might be interested in hosting the 2026 event.

He said: “We look forward to conversations with other states who might be interested in a 2026 games bid as part of their big event vision for their state.”

Australia has hosted five editions of the Commonwealth Games in 1938 (Sydney), 1962 (Perth), 1982 (Brisbane), 2006 (Melbourne) and 2018 (Gold Coast).

Birmingham, England will play host in 2022. 

Sportcal