The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games opened in spectacular style on July 23rd as The King (King Charles III) and The Queen (Queen Camilla) took a cue from the Doctor by emerging into The Hydro from the TARDIS (a surprise grand entrance for King Charles III and Queen Camilla).
‘commonwealth games GLASGOW 2026’ stated that while few of the thrilled Glasgow crowd needed a time machine to recall the last visit of the Games to their city, the world’s most famous Police Box launched a ceremony that will live long in the memory.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Glasgow 2026, is an ongoing multisport event underway from July 23rd-August 2nd, 2026 in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland (UK), for members of the Commonwealth of Nations (an international association of 56 Member States the vast majority of which are former territories of its predecessor, the British Empire).
The Doctor (from Doctor Who – a long-running British Science fiction television series produced by the BBC) featured in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games during a surprise entrance by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, a cameo by the Seventh Doctor (an incarnation of the main character) in Doctor Who actor Sylvester McCoy (Scottish actor) and a tribute to the Scottish Police Box (a small, 20th-century mini-station used by the police officers on the beat for communication, shelter and temporary report-writing) roots.
The 14,300-seat OVO Hydro is a major indoor arena in Glasgow (UK) that hosted the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026.
‘commonwealth games GLASGOW 2026’ further stated that the show opened with a curved light emitting diode (LED) screen – 50 meters wide – beaming the TARDIS’ journey around Scotland including trips to Loch Ness (a massive, deep and murky freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands), the Kelpies (a pair of monumental steel horse-heads between the Scottish towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth) and the Edinburgh Castle (a famous historic fortress sitting on top of an old volcanic rock in the middle of Edinburgh, Scotland).
Time Machine
With cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh at the controls – and the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, a bemused onlooker – the time machine made a final stop at the Balmoral Castle, the home of the Royal Family in the Highlands.
Comic Aplomb
“I’ll go – I’ve met them before,” said Hoy with comic aplomb leaving McHugh behind as he turned towards the castle. The King and The Queen seemingly onboard, the excited gasps of the crowd became an expectant hush as the TARDIS left the giant screen and ‘materialized’ on the stage.
Hoy emerged first, followed a few tantalizing seconds later by Queen Camilla and King Charles III, who pretended to peer through the mist as huge cheers rang around The Hydro.
Pulsating Soundtrack
If the TARDIS transported The King and The Queen, then the ceremony delivered on the promise for Glasgow 2026 to innovate at every turn. For the first time in the Commonwealth Games history the athletes entered the arena before the show had unfolded skirting a giant living garden to a pulsating electro-folk soundtrack.
‘Immensely Proud’
“I’m immensely proud to lead out so many amazing athletes,” Team Wales flagbearer Rosie Eccles, a Birmingham 2022 gold medalist in Women’s boxing, said.
Remarked Eccles, “It’s my birthday today (July 23rd) and they surprised me yesterday (July 22nd) with a cake and then asked me if I’d be flagbearer. People don’t shock me much but I was so honored.”
Living Garden-Living Artwork
When Team Scotland walked on in a kit of tartan kilts (traditional knee-length pleated garments from Scotland) at the end of the parade the audience erupted. By then, the uniquely decorated batons of all 74 participating nations and territories had transformed the living garden into a living artwork.
‘Flower of Scotland’
The Loch Ness Monster ‘Nessie’ (a legendary and elusive creature said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands) – who else? –was then lured into the arena by actor Sam Heughan (famous Scottish actor, producer and author) as a band of pipers and drummers played ‘Flower of Scotland’ – Scotland’s unofficial anthem.
Musical Flash Mob
The ceremony’s story extended over one transformative day in the city as a musical flash mob came together beneath the famous clock at the Glasgow Central Station.
Stunning Tributes
Visually stunning tributes were paid to the workers who drove and still drive the city’s industries with the dancers memorably ‘weaving’ a giant fabric on which the city’s ‘People Make Glasgow’ philosophy was emblazoned in Gaelic.
‘Love Letter to Glasgow’
Remarked Louisa Mahon, Glasgow 2026 Chief Marketing and Ceremonies Officer, “They say it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes a city to put on an Opening Ceremony and that’s exactly what we’ve done. We’ve created a love letter to Glasgow – from our amazing industrial heritage through to the really creative, people-fueled, passionate city that we are now.”
By the end of the main performance the Glasgow Central clock had become a kaleidoscope as The Hydro went all disco replete with sparkling unicorns and dancing stars in celebration of the city’s renowned nightlife. Team Scotland led the party from the seats agreeing with singer Callum Beattie (Scottish singer-songwriter) that ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’.
Magical Moments
Added Mahon, “Just seeing people laugh at the bits we hoped they would laugh at and the interaction of the crowd when they sang along, applauded, got on their feet, and were dancing – that was just magical.”
Scotland is hosting the Commonwealth Games for the fourth time with the event returning to Glasgow after an absence of only 12 years.
George Black (Commander of the Order of the British Empire [CBE]), Chair of Glasgow 2026, heaped praise on the city’s late call to action.
Rolling up Sleeves
He told The Hydro crowd and an estimated worldwide audience of 750 million people, “When the future of these Games was uncertain Glasgow didn’t ask, ‘Can we?’. We asked, ‘When do we get started?’ Because that’s what we do. We roll up our sleeves and, together, make extraordinary things happen.”
After an extraordinary Opening Ceremony the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games can finally begin.
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