Their Majesties The King and Queen will officially open the XXIII Commonwealth Games on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at The Hydro in Glasgow, marking the start of 11 days of sport and celebration across Scotland.
The Royal couple will join over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories, as well as officials, volunteers and spectators, for the Opening Ceremony. Athletes will compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports until August 2.
The ceremony will hold special significance as it will be the first Commonwealth Games of His Majesty’s reign. During the event, The King will read aloud the message he placed into the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day, 10th March 2025, at Buckingham Palace. That moment, when Sir Chris Hoy carried the Baton first, officially launched the Relay.
The reading of the message by His Majesty will be the moment Glasgow 2026 is officially declared open. Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Commonwealth champion, will also take part in the ceremony.
“It is an absolute honour to attend the opening of Glasgow 2026 with Their Majesties The King and Queen,” Sir Chris said. “A home Games is always a special occasion and I have so many wonderful memories from competing in the Commonwealth Games myself. I have no doubt the city of Glasgow will yet again be a superb host to what promises to be an exciting event.”
Across 500 days, the King’s Baton has traveled to all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories — the longest relay in Games history. Each nation crafted and decorated its own Baton to reflect its culture and identity. Along the way, the Relay also carried forward the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign with the Royal Commonwealth Society, supporting coastal clean-ups and awareness events to keep a million pieces of plastic out of Commonwealth waters.
In Glasgow, all 74 Batons will be reunited for the first time. The Scotland Baton, handmade in the city from sustainably sourced ash, will be presented to His Majesty so the message inside can be read aloud.
Set in one of the world’s leading entertainment venues, organizers promise a ceremony that reflects Glasgow’s warmth and pride.
“We are honoured that Their Majesties The King and Queen will join athletes, fans, delegations and communities from across the Commonwealth,” said Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport. “Glasgow 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. The Opening Ceremony will set the tone for a Games that celebrates world-class sport, friendship and the unique ability of the Commonwealth Games to bring people together.”
George Black CBE, Chair of Glasgow 2026, added: “Welcoming Their Majesties The King and Queen to The Hydro is a proud moment for everyone building the Opening Ceremony. We set out to make something bold, unmistakably Glasgow and unlike anything the Commonwealth Games has produced before.”
Further details of Their Majesties’ and Sir Chris Hoy’s engagements during the ceremony will be announced in due course. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games run from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
