​King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to formally open the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games later this month, organisers have announced. The opening ceremony will take place at The Hydro on July 23, with six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy also taking part, marking the event’s return to Glasgow for the first time in 12 years.
King Charles will officially open the Games by reading the message he placed into the King’s Baton at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day last year, March 10. The baton, designed to travel through all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories over more than 500 days, began its journey with Hoy as its first bearer. Each participating nation and territory crafted a unique baton reflecting its culture, and these batons will unite in Glasgow for the first time. The handmade Scotland Baton, created from sustainably sourced ash, will be presented as part of the ceremony.
The Commonwealth Games are due to begin later this month. Hoy, a two-time Commonwealth champion, described the opportunity to attend the opening with Their Majesties as an absolute honour. He 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 once 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. The countdown is on.”
George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, expressed pride at welcoming the monarchs to The Hydro. He said: “This is a proud moment for everyone involved in building the opening ceremony. We aimed to create 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.”
Dr Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, added: “We are honoured that Their Majesties, the King and Queen, will join athletes, fans, delegations and communities from across the Commonwealth for the opening ceremony of Glasgow 2026. As the first Commonwealth Games of His Majesty’s reign, and the culmination of the first King’s Baton Relay, it will be a special occasion for everyone involved in the Commonwealth Games.”
Sir Chris Hoy will attend the ceremony with the King and Queen. He commented that Glasgow 2026 marks a new chapter for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. With athletes from 74 nations and territories coming together, he believed the opening ceremony would set the tone for a Games that celebrates world-class sport, friendship, and the unique power of the Commonwealth Games to bring people together.
The Games will run from July 23 to August 2, with more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competing across 10 sports and six Para sports. In parallel, the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign—conducted in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society—has been engaging communities in coastal clean-ups aimed at preventing one million pieces of plastic from entering marine environments, underscoring a commitment to sustainability alongside the sporting spectacle.