King Charles III opens 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

The 2026 Commonwealth Games officially opened in Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday, July 23, with a ceremony at the city's OVO Hydro arena. King Charles III, accompanied by Queen Camilla, formally declared the 23rd edition of the Games open, marking the start of 11 days of competition featuring more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories.

The opening ceremony blended Scottish cultural heritage with royal tradition and theatrical spectacle. In a notable departure from protocol, the King and Queen made a dramatic entrance from a replica of the Doctor Who TARDIS, accompanied by Scottish cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy. The event featured musical performances by Scottish artists including KT Tunstall, Tom Walker, Nathan Evans, Callum Beattie, and Nina Nesbitt, whose rendition of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" energized the packed arena.

A central moment was the culmination of the Kings Baton Relay, described as the longest in the event's history. Launched by the King on Commonwealth Day in March 2025, the relay traveled for over 500 days through all participating nations. For the first time, each nation crafted its own unique baton. The Scotland Baton was presented to the King,...