Rwanda is gearing up to welcome the King’s Baton Relay, previously known as the Queen’s Baton Relay, for the sixth time from October 25 to 30.
The Relay, a symbolic tradition held before every edition of the Commonwealth Games, carries a message from the United Kingdom’s King Charles to all Commonwealth nations and territories. It highlights the spirit of unity, diversity, and shared Commonwealth values.
This year, Rwanda will serve as the final African stop before the Baton continues its journey across Asia.
As an active member of the Commonwealth, Rwanda has hosted the Baton Relay multiple times; in 2014, 2017, and 2021, and will once again take part in the event ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 2025 King’s Baton Relay was launched on March 10, 2025, at Buckingham Palace, where King Charles placed his personal message inside the first Baton. Over a span of 500 days, the Baton will travel through 74 Commonwealth countries and territories, marking the longest relay in the history of the Games.
This year’s edition comes with a fresh format that emphasizes environmental and financial sustainability. For the first time, every participating nation will receive its own Baton, designed to allow for local decoration that reflects each country’s culture and heritage, a departure from the traditional museum-style designs used in the past.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has also partnered with the Royal Commonwealth Society to promote the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, which aims to prevent one million pieces of plastic waste from polluting Commonwealth waterways before the 2026 Games.
In Rwanda, the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA Rwanda) has planned an engaging one-day event at Kivu Beach in Rubavu District on October 25, followed by a reception at the British High Commission Residence in Kigali on October 30. The event will mark the completion of the African leg of the Relay.
More than 150 community members are expected to participate in the celebrations, which will include Baton presentations, sports activities, and a large-scale community plastic clean-up campaign..
