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The Commonwealth Games 2026 will officially begin with the opening ceremony at the Hydro arena in Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday (Jul 23). Here's everything you need to know before the event.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from Jul 23 to Aug 2, bringing together thousands of athletes from across the Commonwealth. The multi-sport event will begin with the opening ceremony on Jul 23, marking the start of 11 days of competition. The Games will be staged across four venues in Glasgow, Glasgow International Arena, Scottish Event Campus, Scotstoun Stadium and Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The opening ceremony will include cultural performances, a parade of athletes and the official launch of the Games.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held at OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday (Jul 23) and is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM IST.
India’s flag will be carried by Olympic medallists Lovlina Borgohain and Mirabai Chanu, who will also serve as the country’s baton bearers during the opening ceremony.
The ceremony will feature performances by Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, folk musician Nathan Evans and Scottish music group Saint PHNX.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are expected to attend the ceremony. The King is also set to officially inaugurate the Games.
Indian viewers can watch the Commonwealth Games and the opening ceremony live on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 Hindi SD & HD and Sony Sports Ten 4. Live streaming will be available on the Sony Liv app.
Competition will feature sports such as athletics, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, boxing and several others, with medal events taking place throughout the Games. The event will conclude with the closing ceremony, which will also include the official handover to the next host city, Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, a landmark edition that will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth Games.