Commonwealth Games 2026 organisers have confirmed that the opening ceremony will take place at the OVO Hydro, marking the first time the event has been staged in an indoor arena.
The ceremony, scheduled for 23 July, will launch 11 days of competition and is being positioned as a more immersive experience compared to traditional stadium formats.
The production is being led by Glasgow-based creatives, with Roxana Cole as show and staging director, choreography by Emily Jane Boyle and costume design by Carole Millar. The overall vision is overseen by ceremonies chief Louisa Mahon.
Alongside the announcement, organisers have opened applications for 700 volunteer cast members to take part in the ceremony. Roles will include performance, athlete welcoming and community representation, with opportunities open to dancers, musicians, theatre performers and those without formal experience.
Louisa Mahon, chief marketing and ceremonies officer at Glasgow 2026, said: “From iconic directors and actors to global producers, choreographers and set designers, Glasgow and Scotland are bursting with creativity. We’re working with some incredible female creatives to build a ceremony that’s bold, unmistakably Glasgow and unlike anything the Commonwealth Games has produced before.
“The Hydro is a spectacular venue and this ceremony is being designed to be experienced, not observed - one that will translate to broadcast in a way that stadium ceremonies simply cannot match.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for volunteers to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest global superstars who have performed in front of cheering crowds in the Hydro bowl. No matter your background, ability or experience – we want to hear from you, this is your moment!”
Dominic McKay, chief executive of the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), added: “The SEC is built for moments like the Commonwealth Games 2026 Opening Ceremony. We’re incredibly proud to play such a central role in the opening celebrations, not just as a venue, but as a passionate partner committed to delivering an extraordinary Games for Glasgow and the entire Commonwealth. We are ready to lift the curtain and raise the roof on an event which will inspire and capture the imagination of millions."
The Games will take place from 23 July to 2 August, bringing together more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories across a programme of 10 sports and six Para sports.
Applications for volunteer cast members are open until 24 April, with auditions due to take place in Glasgow in May.
