The Hydro to Host Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony
The Hydro will serve as the venue for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow this summer, with organisers promising a "Clyde-built experience for the world."
Approximately 700 volunteer cast members will be recruited for the event scheduled on 23 July. Dancers, theatre performers, musicians, and "all-round performers" are invited to apply before the 24 April deadline.
This ceremony will mark the first time a Games opening ceremony is held in an arena rather than an outdoor stadium. According to Louisa Mahon, Glasgow 2026's ceremonies creative lead, the event is "being designed to be experienced, not observed."
Mahon's team includes show and staging director Roxana Cole, choreographer Emily-Jane Boyle, and costume designer Carole Millar.
"We're working with some incredible female creatives to build a ceremony that's bold, unmistakably Glasgow and unlike anything the Commonwealth Games has produced before," Mahon adds.
The minimum age for volunteers is 16, no prior experience is required, and "passionate people from all backgrounds" are encouraged to apply to "showcase the city's local communities and cultures."
The 24 April application deadline may be moved earlier if demand is high. Auditions will take place in Glasgow on 9-10 May.
Additional Information on Glasgow 2026
Glasgow 2026 will run from 23 July to 2 August, featuring more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competing across 10 sports and six Para sports.
When the Games were last held in Glasgow in 2014, the opening ceremony took place at Celtic Park.
Additional Venue Use
In addition to hosting the opening ceremony, The Hydro will also be the venue for netball events during this summer's Games.
