King Charles III officially opened the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after arriving at the Hydro Arena in a Doctor Who Tardis with Queen Camilla. The ceremony celebrated Scottish and Glaswegian culture while welcoming athletes and Para-athletes from 74 nations and territories, marking Glasgow’s rescue of an event whose future had appeared uncertain after Victoria withdrew as host in 2023.

The indoor event drew about 10,000 people, smaller than the 40,000 audience at Glasgow’s 2014 opening ceremony, and featured a Loch Ness Monster display, bagpipes, drummers and performances by Scottish musicians. Scotland’s team received the loudest reception, while organisers said the city had prepared the Games in around 18 months by reusing venues and staging eight fewer sports than in 2014.