Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games officially open
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially underway after an Opening Ceremony that brought together athletes from 74 nations and territories at the Hydro.
The first Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony to be staged inside an arena began with Sir Chris Hoy travelling through Scotland in the TARDIS to collect King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The journey took in Loch Ness, Edinburgh Castle, the Highlands and Balmoral before the royal couple arrived at the Hydro.
The ceremony celebrated Glasgow and Scottish culture through music, dance and visual performances. Nessie appeared before massed pipes and drums launched into Flower of Scotland, while Nathan Evans and Saint PHNX performed during a sequence inspired by the Glasgow phrase “meet me under the clock”.
The Parade of Nations saw Gabon and Togo make their first Commonwealth Games appearances. Team Guyana wore black armbands and carried its flag at half-mast in memory of those who died in the recent ferry disaster.
The ceremony also marked the conclusion of the King’s Baton Relay. For the first time, all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories received and decorated their own Baton to represent their culture.
As each team entered the Hydro, its Baton was placed in a central garden, reuniting all 74 after their journeys across the Commonwealth. Each was engraved with a word from the King’s Message, while the full message had remained inside Scotland’s Baton since the relay began at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day in March 2025.
King Charles III officially declared the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games open, describing the Commonwealth as a “unique and extraordinary family of nations”. He told the athletes: “As we gather, we celebrate the dedication and talent of every athlete and team. Your perseverance inspires us, and we eagerly anticipate your achievements in the coming days.”
The King also reflected on the King’s Baton Relay, noting that alongside carrying his message around the Commonwealth it had highlighted the need to tackle plastic pollution in oceans and rivers. He said Glasgow would welcome athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth with “warm hearts and open arms”.
Glasgow 2026 will bring together around 3,000 athletes competing for 215 gold medals across 10 sports and six Para sports before the Games close on 2 August.
Competition begins on Friday, with the first medals awarded in para powerlifting and 14 gold medals decided across the opening day.
