Backing local jobs with three years to go until Games

With three years to go until the eyes of the sporting world are on regional Victoria for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Victorian Government is launching a jobs pipeline that delivers for local workers and businesses.

A goods and services procurement pipeline has been launched that features more than 1,200 opportunities for local companies to win contracts.

The pipeline is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, covering everything from sporting equipment to medals, transport, security, catering, temporary infrastructure, marketing, telecommunications, IT and more. 

Victoria 2026 will be the biggest event ever held in regional Victoria, with a jam-packed roster of 20 sports and nine para sports, alongside major festival programs celebrating sport, art and culture in the five Games cities – Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Shepparton.

With more than 1 million tickets to go on sale, modelling carried out for the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee estimates the Games will attract around 300,000 visitors from outside the host cities, including more than 100,000 visitors each in Geelong and Ballarat, 50,000 in Bendigo and 25,000 in Gippsland.

The influx of visitors will provide a boost to local hotels, restaurants, cafes and retailers that, together with jobs pipelines, are expected to contribute more than $3 billion to Victoria’s economy, creating more than 7500 jobs before, during and after the Games.

In addition to the goods and services pipeline, the Victorian Government is investing in a construction works pipeline for four Games villages and competition venues across the state.

The Local Jobs First policy and the social procurement framework will create opportunities for local contractors and suppliers to win contracts and ensure the Games deliver strong social outcomes.

Regional engagement forums have begun and will continue in host cities. To view the Victoria 2026 Goods and Services Pipeline, businesses can visit the hub at victoria2026.com.au/business, or to register a supplier profile and learn more about state procurement, visit tenders.vic.gov.au.

Development Victoria is a key delivery partner for the sports infrastructure required to host events, along with the four Games villages that will welcome athletes and team officials at the regional hubs.