King and Queen to open Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 23 July at the OVO Hydro. The Royal couple will join athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators from across the Commonwealth to officially kick off 10 days of sporting action.

Sir Chris Hoy, one of Scotland's most decorated athletes, will also take part in the ceremony, which will be broadcast live by the BBC. The King launched the baton relay at Buckingham Palace last March, handing it to Sir Chris, who was the first bearer on its journey around the world.

This year, each of the 74 competing teams has been given its own baton to decorate. All 74 batons will be reunited in Glasgow for the first time during the ceremony, where King Charles will read aloud the message he placed into the Scotland baton in March 2025. The reading will mark the moment Glasgow 2026 is officially declared open.

Scottish singers KT Tunstall and Nathan Evans will headline the opening ceremony, alongside Callum Beattie and Nina Nesbitt.

Gilbert