A First-of-its-Kind Indoor Opening Ceremony

The 23rd Commonwealth Games officially got underway in Glasgow on Thursday, July 23, with an opening ceremony staged entirely inside the 14,300-capacity OVO Hydro arena — a first in the event's history. Moving away from the traditional open-air stadium format, organisers delivered an energetic indoor spectacle celebrating Scotland's culture and heritage while signalling a more sustainable future for the Commonwealth movement. In another break from tradition, athletes from all 74 participating nations and territories paraded into the arena at the very start of the show rather than at the end.

India's Contingent Makes a Grand Entry

India's team was led into the arena by two of the country's most decorated athletes — weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who carried the national tricolour as flag bearer, and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who served as baton bearer. The Indian contingent's ceremonial kit featured dark blue blazers and trousers for the men, while the women wore sarees paired with blazers, blending contemporary design with traditional Indian elements. The team received a rousing cheer from the crowd as it entered. India is competing across 13 disciplines at these Games, including para sports.

New Format for the Parade of Nations

Glasgow 2026 introduced a new format for the Parade of Nations: unlike Birmingham 2022, where each country had two flag bearers, this edition featured one flag bearer and one baton bearer per nation. The parade began with Botswana entering first, followed by athletes from Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, Oceania and Europe.

King Charles III Declares the Games Open

King Charles III formally declared the Games open, reading aloud the message he had placed inside the King's Baton at Buckingham Palace in March last year. That baton had since travelled through all 74 Commonwealth member nations over a 500-day global relay. In his address, the King spoke on the theme of gathering and connecting for a common future. As part of the ceremony, all 74 batons were planted into a 200-square-metre living stage garden featuring native Scottish flora, around which spotlit pipers performed.

A Scottish Cultural Showcase

The ceremony's lineup was headlined by Grammy-nominated Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, along with performances from Tom Walker, Nathan Evans — known for his viral sea-shanty recordings — and the alternative music duo Saint PHNX, among other homegrown acts. The show closed with the Commonwealth Flag being carried into the arena and hoisted, followed by the Commonwealth Oath, delivered on behalf of athletes, officials and judges by Paul Foster, Robyn Love and Leslie Roy.

What's Next for Team India

With the ceremony complete, competition at Glasgow 2026 now gets underway across 215 events in 11 sports, running until August 2. Mirabai Chanu has indicated she will pace herself in Glasgow, choosing not to attempt her full 90kg snatch effort as she keeps her focus on the upcoming Asian Games, where she plans to push for that mark instead.