Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow LIVE - updates, pictures and colour from the Opening Ceremony at The Hydro

Summary

Opening ceremony from Glasgow's Hydro
King Charles & Queen Camilla emerge from Tardis accompanied by Sir Chris Hoy
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham also in attendance
More than 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports over 10 days
Schedule & medals table | Five big names to look out for | Can you name every host city?

Amy Canavan & Richard Winton

Postpublished at 20:13 BST 23 July

Aye. This really happened a few moments ago.
Image source, SNS
Image source, Reuters
Postpublished at 20:11 BST 23 July

So the 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth will come out alphabetically by region, so we're getting all the African countries out first in order.
The teams will emerge from both sides of the stage, which is shaped like a Celtic knot, and walk around it before taking their seats.

Postpublished at 20:09 BST 23 July

Right, now we're into the athletes parade. .
They're calling this bit Ceud Míle Failte - Gaelic for ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’.
For the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the athletes are taking centre stage before formalities kick in.
Botswana are the first ones out.
Postpublished at 20:08 BST 23 July

That's electro-folk band Valtos on the stage to soundtrack the Parade of Nations. Here come the athletes...

Postpublished at 20:06 BST 23 July

A very emotional Sir Chris Hoy behind them.
What a guy.
Postpublished at 20:05 BST 23 July

King Charles and Queen Camilla have just stepped out of the Tardis, which has found its way to The Hydro.
That's not a sentence I expected to write tonight. Or any other night for that matter.

Postpublished at 20:03 BST 23 July

Sir Chris Hoy stepping into the Tardis. Fighting with actor Greg McHugh as to who gets to use the buttons. Asking Sylvester McCoy how he gets to Balmoral to pick up the King and Queen.
Only at the Commonwealth Games.
Image source, SNS
Postpublished at 20:01 BST 23 July

Down go the lights.
Image source, SNS

Postpublished at 19:59 BST 23 July

The posh seats are filling up.
It's getting closer...
Postpublished at 19:56 BST 23 July

We've just been given our five-minute countdown here and told to put phones on silent.
I'll attempt to type quieter...

Postpublished at 19:54 BST 23 July

The pre-ceremony playlist has been violently Scottish.
Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand and Biffy Clyro.
Banger after banger.
What do we know about this year's show?published at 19:52 BST 23 July

We know that their Majesties The King and Queen will be here. As will new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The King will read the message he placed into the King's Baton on Commonwealth Day in March at Buckingham Palace - that will mark the moment that Glasgow 2026 is officially declared open.
Sir Chris Hoy, one of Scotland's most decorated athletes, will also take part, as will a range of musical acts including KT Tunstall, Nathan Evans and Saint PHNX, Callum Beattie and Nina Nesbitt, who will perform a reimagined version of a much-loved Scottish track.
And Electronic-trad band Valtos have teamed up with musicians from across the Commonwealth to soundtrack the ceremonial Parade of Nations.

Postpublished at 19:51 BST 23 July

Wait til Matthew sees Finnie with her traffic cone too...
Meet Finnie...published at 19:49 BST 23 July

Image source, SNS
So this is Finnie. She's a unicorn. And obviously the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland.
She was designed by Glasgow schoolkids and we'll be seeing a lot of her over these next 11 days.
And anyone paying attention to the antics of the Tartan Army at the football World Cup might recognise the traffic cone on her head...

Postpublished at 19:48 BST 23 July

One of the real stars of the show in 2014, though, was Clyde the mascot.
Haud yer hat...
What was the Glasgow 2014 opening ceremony like?published at 19:46 BST 23 July

In short, class.
There were dancing Tunnock's tea cakes. Susan Boyle belting out tunes. And unintended comedy when Prince Imran, the Commonwealth Games Federation president, struggled to open the Queen's baton to hand to her.
You can remind yourself of it here. It brings a smile to the face.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS

Postpublished at 19:45 BST 23 July

While this place will soon host the netball, it's got to get through this opening ceremony first.
It kicks off in about 15 minutes and folks are getting giddy.
If the last one is anything to go by, you can understand why...
What are the venues?published at 19:43 BST 23 July

Four venues will host the Games.
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre will host swimming and para-swimming
- Scotstoun Stadium will host athletics and para-athletics.
- The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena will host track cycling, para-track cycling and artistic gymnastics
- The Scottish Event Campus will host the remaining sports, spread across various buildings...the OVO Hydro, will swap gigs for netball, the SEC Armadillo will welcome weightlifting and powerlifting, while 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball, bowls and para-bowls, boxing and judo will all go ahead at the SEC Centre