King and Queen to open Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to attend Glasgow's 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The Royal couple will join athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators from across the Commonwealth to officially kick-off 10 days of sporting action.

The event will take place in the OVO Hydro on 23 July.

Sir Chris Hoy, one of Scotland's most decorated athletes, will also take part in the opening ceremony, which will be broadcast live by 5.

King Charles launched the King's baton relay at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day last March, marking 500 days until the start of the event.

He handed the baton to Sir Chris, who was the first bearer on its journey around the world.

Traditionally the King's baton relay has involved a single baton being transported through all 74 nations and territories.

But this year, each team competing has been given its own baton to decorate.

Trinidad and Tobago was the first destination for the relay - the longest one in the Games' history.

It arrived in Scotland on 1 July and will make its way to more than 50 events in Scotland before reaching the Hydro.

All 74 batons will be reunited in Glasgow for the first time during the ceremony, where the King will read aloud the message he placed into the King's Scotland baton on 10 March 2025.

The reading of the message will mark the moment that Glasgow 2026 is officially declared open.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Scottish singers KT Tunstall and Nathan Evans will headline the opening ceremony, alongside Callum Beattie and Nina Nesbitt.

5 will broadcast the opening ceremony on air and on streaming, followed by daily highlights hosted by former Olympic sprinter Jeanette Kwakye.

It will be screened live under licence from TNT Sports, who secured the rights to be the Games' live UK broadcast partner.

BBC Alba will also show nightly coverage and highlights. It said details on its broadcast times and programming would be announced closer to the start of Glasgow 2026.

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Sir Chris said: "It is an absolute honour to attend the opening of Glasgow 2026 with the King and Queen.

"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 and I very much look forward to being a part of it."

George Black CBE, chair of Glasgow 2026, said: "Welcoming 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.

"To have their Majesties there to see it come to life makes it all the more special."

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