The Tasmanian government expressed interest in hosting or co-hosting the games last week but those hopes appear to have been dashed.

A Commonwealth Games statement, on Wednesday, indicated the focus is on holding most of the event in regional Victoria.

CGA announced it had signed a Heads of Agreement with the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to enter exclusive negotiations to bring the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula on Wednesday confirmed Victoria would host if awarded the Games.

Premier Gutwein said the announcement had caught him off guard.

"Can I say first of all, I was a little disappointed in the way Commonwealth Games Australia dealt with this," he said.

"The first I heard that they were exclusively dealing with Victoria was through the media.

"I have a meeting with Commonwealth Games Australia later this week and I will have further discussions with them then.

"I have always said that we should be aspirational and I think we offer some great co-hosting options.

"But, again, the message and communication from Commonwealth Games Australia is they are now going to exclusively deal with Victoria.

"I need to understand exactly what Commonwealth Games Australia's current position is.

"I'll engage with them, we'll have a discussion, we'll see where things go, obviously I have been very strongly of the view that we could co-host a number of sports, but again it will depend on Commonwealth Games Australia's position."

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It comes after The Examiner last week reported Premier Gutwein had officially written to Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive, Craig Phillips.

Gutwein asked for Tasmania to be considered as a host state for 2026 or possibly as a co-host with another state.

The Victorian government will work with the CGF and CGA to develop its 2026 Commonwealth Games submission.

The CGF will assess this submission prior to any decision being made to award the Games to Victoria.

Australia has hosted the Games five times but they haven't been held on the Apple Isle.

Sydney had the honour in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982, Melbourne in 2006 and the Gold Coast in 2018.

This year's Games are in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin said the announcement had come after months of discussion.

"We are pleased to have entered into an exclusive dialogue with Victoria and Commonwealth Games Australia to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games," she said.

"Following months of positive discussions, it is clear that Victoria has an exciting vision for a future Games which will provide many benefits for the community whilst leaving a significant legacy for the state.

"This vision is aligned with our 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap, which has proved to be a catalyst for positive and exciting conversations on how our event will look in four years' time.

"Victoria is one of the world's greatest sporting states and there is no doubt it has the venues, infrastructure, and people to stage a world class edition of the Games.

"We are very excited to be working closely with Victoria and Commonwealth Games Australia to explore the potential staging of the event in the state."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is excited by the prospect of hosting duties.

"Victoria is Australia's sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition," he said.

"We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities - to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long-term."

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