King Charles and Queen Camilla emerged from a Tardis at the start of a spectacular Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow. The royal couple drew gasps and cheers from the audience at the Hydro as they appeared on a stage that had been turned into a giant garden.
Flags from 74 nations and territories were carried into the arena during the event, which also featured the Loch Ness monster and performances from Nathan Evans, Tom Walker and KT Tunstall. The show celebrated the story of Glasgow - from its industrial past to its vibrant nigh life - ahead of a Games that will see 215 medals awarded across 10 sports.
Alex Marshall led Team Scotland into the arena
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney and First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth were among the dignitaries in the royal box for a show that lasted two hours and 20 minutes.
Glasgow, which hosted the event in 2014, stepped in to stage it for a second time after the Australian city of Victoria pulled out due to soaring costs. Although on a smaller scale to previous editions, the 23rd Games will see a record 47 para-sports events.
The stage was transformed into a magical Scottish garden
In a spectacular opening scene, six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh emerged from the Tardis to cheers before they were, to the audience's surprise, followed by the King and Queen. After the royal couple took their seats an 18-strong Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus entered, stood among the garden paths, and sang God Save The King.
Then, for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the athletes took centre stage by parading into the arena before the ceremony fully got under way.
The African nations led the way with Botswana the first to enter the Hydro. The segment was titled Ceud Míle Fáilte - Scottish-Gaelic for "a hundred thousand welcomes".
This year there was no baton relay across the Commonwealth but each of the 74 nations and territories was given a wooden baton to decorate. As they entered, the team's baton bearer handed the baton to one of three gardeners on stage.
It is was then planted on stage to create a colourful garden.
The soundtrack, by Skye-based Valstos, fused trad and electronic music and mixed in samples from the country's musical traditions. Organisers said it was designed to be "a symbol of common ground, bringing a piece of every nation and territory into a shared celebration of the natural world that connects us all."
The last baton was brought in by Team Scotland, who received the loudest cheer of the night as they were led in by Alex Marshall - who has won five Commonwealth gold medals in bowls - and judo champion Sarah Adlington.
After the parade, a piper appeared in a spotlight and played a single note. The Loch Ness monster appeared on screen before being magically coaxed on to the stage by Outlander star Sam Heughan.
Pipers and drummers, including in the upper decks of the arena, delivered a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland.
The focus then switched to a day in the life of the host city, with a dance section featuring the famous Glasgow Central Station clock. People mimicked the 10 sports that will be played during the Games.
Nathan Evans - who shot to fame with his sea shanty Wellerman in 2021 - entered and began to sing with the Saint PHNX Band. The song took over the station scene like a flash mob and unleashed the joy of the song's message: Scotland is a place called home.
Three city guides then told the story of Glasgow, using staging inspired by Scotland's pioneering textile industry and the River Clyde's shipbuilding heritage. The city's legendary nightlife was celebrated with a section that paid tribute to venues such as the Barrowland Ballroom and the Sub Club.
Singer Callum Beattie then appeared - flanked by dancing silver unicorns and stars - and sang Scotland's unofficial football anthem, Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara.
Team Scotland got to their feet and soon athletes from every nation were showing off their best dance moves in a moment to remember.
The mood became more sombre as the Commonwealth Sport flag was raised after a procession involving members of the armed forces. Three Team Scotland representatives - Paul Foster (bowls), Robyn Love (3x3 Wheelchair Basketball) and former athletics manager Leslie Roy - then took the Commonwealth oath.
Dr Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, told the audience the "extraordinary legacy" of Glasgow 2014 had made the "reimagined Games" possible. The Ugandan - who was wearing a Wallace tartan kilt in his country's colours - thanked those who had made the multi-sports event possible.
"For the next 11 days, 74 nations and territories, thousands of athletes and supporters, and countless cultures and stories come together, united by one simple idea: that sport has the power to bring people together.
"In a world that can sometimes feel divided, that matters more than ever."
George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, said the city made "extraordinary things happen".
"When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn't ask, 'Can we?' We asked, 'When do we get started?'"
"This is your time."
After the speeches, a choir hummed a stripped-back arrangement of The Proclaimers' anthem I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) as footage of the King's Baton Relay was shown on the giant screen. Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt then performed an acoustic version of the famous track as phones lit up the arena.
The King's Baton was then paraded around the Hydro by swimmer Hannah Miley and para-cycling great Neil Fachie. The baton was finally passed to professional basketball player Kieron Achara, who handed it to the King.
The monarch opened then read aloud a message he had placed in the baton in March last year - 500 days before the start of the Games. King Charles said a key theme of the relay had been raising awareness of plastic pollution and the damage it causes to marine life.
"I extend my warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow, all the athletes, organisers, volunteers and all those who have made this event possible."
The final chapter of the ceremony featured a rousing musical section, which was kicked off by Tom Walker singing his international hit Leave the Light On. Scotland's own KT Tunstall then performed two of her greatest hits, Black Horse & the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See.
In between, she channelled the energy of the Tartan Army from the World Cup by leading the crowd in a a chant of "No Scotland No Party". Nathan Evans and the Saint PHNX Band then replayed the beat of their hit Home, as they returned to the stage.
The finale involved a giant pyrotechnic Teacake taking off from the centre of the stage. This was a nod to the dancing Teacakes which provided one of the most memorable moments of the 2014 opening ceremony at Celtic Park.
As one of the biggest global gatherings the city has seen came to end, it was impossible not to feel uplifted. The hope for these Games is that the best is yet to come.
How did the ceremony begin?
The ceremony began with King Charles and Queen Camilla emerging from a Tardis as the opening event got under way at the Hydro in Glasgow. The royal couple received gasps and cheers as they appeared on a stage transformed into a giant garden.
In a spectacular opening scene, six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh came out of the Tardis to applause before the King and Queen followed. After taking their seats, the 18-strong Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus entered and sang God Save The King among the garden paths.
What role did the athletes play?
The athletes took centre stage before the ceremony fully got under way, in the first parade into the arena in Commonwealth Games history. Botswana led the African nations into the Hydro, and the section was titled Ceud Míle Fáilte, the Scottish-Gaelic phrase for "a hundred thousand welcomes".
Each of the 74 nations and territories was given a wooden baton to decorate, replacing a relay across the Commonwealth this year. The baton from each team was handed to one of three gardeners on stage and planted to form a colourful garden.
Team Scotland brought in the final baton and drew the loudest cheer of the night, led by Alex Marshall, who has won five Commonwealth gold medals in bowls, and judo champion Sarah Adlington.
The team from Samoa roared onto the stage
After the parade, a piper played a single note in a spotlight, and the Loch Ness monster appeared on screen before Sam Heughan coaxed it on to the stage. Pipers and drummers, including performers in the upper decks, then played a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland.
How was Glasgow itself featured?
The ceremony moved into a section showing a day in the life of the host city, including a dance sequence featuring the Glasgow Central Station clock. Performers mimicked the 10 sports that will be played during the Games.
Nathan Evans entered and sang with the Saint PHNX Band in a scene that unfolded like a flash mob, turning the station sequence into a celebration of Scotland as home. Three city guides then told Glasgow's story using staging inspired by Scotland's textile industry and the River Clyde's shipbuilding heritage.
The city's nightlife also featured prominently, with a tribute to venues including the Barrowland Ballroom and the Sub Club. Callum Beattie appeared with dancing silver unicorns and stars and sang Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara, Scotland's unofficial football anthem.
Team Scotland rose to their feet and athletes from every nation joined in with their own dance moves.
What happened in the formal parts of the ceremony?
The mood then became more sombre when the Commonwealth Sport flag was raised after a procession involving members of the armed forces. Three Team Scotland representatives - Paul Foster, Robyn Love and Leslie Roy - took the Commonwealth oath.
Dr Donald Rukare said the "extraordinary legacy" of Glasgow 2014 had made the "reimagined Games" possible. He thanked the people who had made the event possible and said that for the next 11 days, 74 nations and territories, thousands of athletes and supporters, and countless cultures and stories would come together around one idea: sport has the power to bring people together.
"In a world that can sometimes feel divided, that matters more than ever."
George Black said Glasgow made "extraordinary things happen" and recalled the city's response when the future of the Games was uncertain.
"When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn't ask, 'Can we?' We asked, 'When do we get started?'"
"This is your time."
How did the baton ceremony unfold?
After the speeches, a choir performed a stripped-back version of The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) while footage of the King's Baton Relay played on the giant screen. Nina Nesbitt then sang an acoustic version of the song as the audience lit up the arena with phones.
The King's Baton was carried around the Hydro by Hannah Miley and Neil Fachie before being passed to Kieron Achara, who handed it to the King. Charles then opened and read the message he had placed in the baton in March last year, 500 days before the start of the Games.
King Charles said the relay had been used to raise awareness of plastic pollution and the damage it causes to marine life. He also thanked the city of Glasgow, the athletes, organisers, volunteers and everyone else who made the event possible.
"I extend my warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow, all the athletes, organisers, volunteers and all those who have made this event possible."
How did the ceremony end?
The final musical section was opened by Tom Walker, who sang Leave the Light On. KT Tunstall followed with Black Horse & the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See, and she led the crowd in a chant of "No Scotland No Party" in tribute to the Tartan Army from the World Cup.
Nathan Evans and the Saint PHNX Band returned to perform Home again before the finale. The final moment featured a giant pyrotechnic Teacake lifting off from the centre of the stage, in a reference to the dancing Teacakes that became one of the most memorable images of the 2014 opening ceremony at Celtic Park.
As the ceremony drew to a close, the sense in the arena was one of celebration and optimism. The event marked the opening of a smaller-scale but still ambitious 23rd Commonwealth Games, with 215 medals to be awarded across 10 sports and a record 47 para-sports events.
Key Facts
- King Charles and Queen Camilla opened the Commonwealth Games ceremony in Glasgow.
- Flags from 74 nations and territories were carried into the arena.
- The 23rd Games will award 215 medals across 10 sports and feature a record 47 para-sports events.
- Glasgow stepped in after Victoria, Australia, pulled out because of soaring costs.
- The ceremony lasted two hours and 20 minutes.
