2026 Commonwealth Games Open with King Charles III, Loch Ness Monster, and Athletes in Glasgow

King Charles III, the Loch Ness Monster and thousands of athletes and Para-athletes took centre stage as the 2026 Commonwealth Games officially began with the opening ceremony.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by cycling great Sir Chris Hoy as they arrived into Glasgow's Hydro Arena in Doctor Who's Tardis – a reference to the blue police boxes seen around the city.

After taking their seats alongside new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who was attending his first major engagement since replacing Sir Keir Starmer, athletes from the 74 competing nations and territories entered the arena.

Those from Botswana were the first to emerge, with athletes dressed in the colours of their nations, including Ghana's red, green, yellow and black stripes, South Africa in Springbok-style rugby jerseys, and Barbados in blue and yellow combined with tartan scarves.

One of the louder cheers came for the Falklands Islands – in the news recently following Argentina's victory over England in the football World Cup semi-finals – and another followed when the Samoa team emerged and performed a haka in front of the dignitaries in the Royal Box.

But nothing compared to the noise which greeted the arrival of the Scotland team, who entered the arena last in their white shirts and kilts and lifted many in the capacity crowd from their seats.

A large Loch Ness Monster representation then emerged, before, backed by bagpipers and drummers, a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland followed.

The next section of the evening featured theatrical performances – a show billed as "a love letter to Glasgow and the Commonwealth".

It began with a performance by Scottish folk and country singer Nathan Evans and a dance under a replica of Glasgow Central Station's iconic clock.

The saying "Meet me under the clock" is famous in these parts.

Singer Callum Beattie's rendition of Baccara's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – the 1970s disco tune recently adopted as Scotland's unofficial anthem - had the Scottish athletes dancing in their seats.

Held indoors in front of about 10,000 people, this was a more intimate ceremony than the last time Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games, when a 40,000-strong crowd witnessed the opening of the Games in 2014 at Celtic Park.

There was a point, after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in 2023, when some thought these Games would not happen. Glasgow stepped in at short notice to ensure otherwise.

There are eight fewer sports involved compared to 2014, given the short build-up, and venues from 12 years ago have been repurposed.

But Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare, wearing a tartan kilt in the colours of his home country Uganda, said this edition has been made possible by the "extraordinary legacy of 2014 and by a city that once again welcomes us with warm hearts and open arms".

George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, added: "When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn't ask: 'Can we?'

"We asked: 'When do we get started?'

"People across this city should be incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past 18 months.

"Venues opened their doors. Communities opened their hearts.

"Businesses, artists, schools, volunteers, partners, neighbours and the people of Glasgow came together with one shared belief: that the Commonwealth Games matter and that the world deserves to experience them."

Scottish singer KT Tunstall's rendition of No Scotland No Party – another anthem of the Tartan Army this summer – later in the evening was fitting on this occasion.

Prior to that, the King's Baton was brought into the arena while singer Nina Nesbitt performed another Scottish classic, the Proclaimers' classic I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).

The King used his speech to stress the importance of preventing plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.

"I extend my warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow and all those have made this event possible," he said.

"As we share our love of sport and our planet, let us build a harmonious future for our families and each other."

The sporting action runs across the next 10 days before the Games conclude with the closing ceremony on Sunday, 2 August, back at the Hydro.

The first medals are set to be won in Para-powerlifting in the early evening of Friday.