The Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will receive a royal touch as Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to attend the event at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow on Thursday, July 23.

The ceremony will officially launch the XXIII Commonwealth Games, bringing together more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories to compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports over an 11-day programme.

A major highlight of the ceremony will see King Charles III read the message he placed inside the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day in March 2025 at Buckingham Palace. The reading of the message will officially declare the Games open, marking the first Commonwealth Games of His Majesty’s reign.

British cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, who was the first baton bearer when the King’s Baton Relay began, will also take part in the ceremony. The relay has travelled for 500 days through all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories—the longest baton relay in Commonwealth Games history—with each nation creating its own baton to reflect its culture and identity.

The relay also promoted the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society, encouraging coastal clean-up activities and environmental awareness across member nations.

All 74 batons will be reunited in Glasgow for the first time before the Scotland Baton, handcrafted from sustainably sourced ash, is presented to the King for the ceremonial reading.

Commonwealth Sport President, Dr. Donald Rukare described the royal attendance as a significant moment, saying the Opening Ceremony would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Commonwealth Sport Movement while celebrating friendship, unity and sporting excellence.

Glasgow 2026 Chair George Black CBE said it was a proud moment to welcome Their Majesties to the city, adding that organisers are preparing a bold and uniquely Glasgow ceremony to celebrate the spirit of the Commonwealth.

Further details of the royal engagements and Sir Chris Hoy’s role during the Opening Ceremony are expected to be announced ahead of the Games.