King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Open Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

British King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 23 July 2026 at The Hydro. During the ceremony the King will read aloud the message he placed inside the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day, 10 March 2025, officially declaring the Games open.

More than 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will compete over 11 days for 215 gold medals across 10 sports and six para‑sports. Six‑time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy will also take part in the ceremony. The event marks the first Commonwealth Games of King Charles’s reign and the culmination of the first King’s Baton Relay, a 500‑day journey that visited all 74 nations, supported the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign and will see all batons displayed together for the first time. Scotland’s baton, handcrafted from sustainably sourced ash, will be presented to the King before the message is read.

Glasgow is hosting the Games for the second time, using four existing venues within an eight‑mile corridor to keep costs low and the event greener. The opening ceremony is intended to showcase the city’s creativity, warmth and pride while celebrating sport, friendship and Commonwealth unity.