THE 2026 Commonwealth Games have been brought to an end in spectacular fashion with music, dancing and a fireworks display over the River Clyde.
Thousands of spectators packed into the Glasgow Hydro on Sunday evening for the closing ceremony, which brought down the curtain on 11 days of sporting action at venues across the city.
The event also marked the handover to the Indian city of Amdavad, which will host the Games in 2030.
The ceremony featured a packed line-up of Scottish music talent alongside some of India’s biggest dance and music stars, in what was billed as “a spectacle that captures the spirit of two nations coming together on one stage”.
Speaking ahead of the closing ceremony, First Minister John Swinney said: “The success of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has shown Scotland at its very best. We have welcomed athletes and supporters from the 74 nations and come together in an outstanding celebration of sport and diversity.
“We have enjoyed watching athletes competing at the highest level, breaking records and inspiring many of us to take part in sporting activities ourselves. The 2026 Games will leave a positive legacy of vital infrastructure upgrades to sporting facilities which will benefit individuals, communities and clubs in Glasgow, particularly at the grassroots level."
He added: “People who have travelled to Scotland for the Games have experienced our world-class hospitality, which has been an excellent boost for our tourism sector and wider economy.
“It was only possible with Glasgow stepping in at short notice that we’ve been able to protect this special event.
"The reimagined model of these Games will help them continue into the future, creating hosting opportunities for other Commonwealth countries – with a focus on inclusivity and innovative approaches to reduce the environmental impact."
He then pointed towards the Tour de France Grand Depart in Edinburgh in 2027, and Uefa 2028, which Scotland will co-host.
The event began with the vast hall plunged into darkness, with only waving phone lights visible, and some of the audience chanting “No Scotland, no party”.
The lights then came up for an on-stage performance by Scottish singer Sandi Thom, and a music video by singer Cammy Barnes projected onto the big screen.
A procession of athletes, volunteers and the flags of the 74 competing nations and territories then entered to the tune of a rousing pop anthem, belted out by Australian artist Delta Goodrem, who shimmered under the lights in a sparkly white dress.
The many Team Scotland representatives sported kilts and traffic cone hats, in a nod to the Glaswegian tradition of “coning” statues, which captured the world’s attention during the recent Fifa World Cup.
As the procession converged on the central point of the Saltire-shaped staging, Delta Goodrem was joined on stage by Cammy Barnes, with the two singing a duet while some of the athletes danced and waved flags, and the crowd clapped along.
This was followed by pipers, a brass band and kilted drummers taking to the stage to play the riff from the Primal Scream song Loaded, accompanied by tracksuit-clad dancers, and a montage of highlights from this year’s Games projected onto the big screen.
Scottish writer Jackie Kay then did a reading of her poem Dear Green Hollow.
The poem included the lines: “May you leave with the spirit of Glasgow’s good grace, bottled and kept safe.
“And in India, in four years’ time, may the Glasgow genie come oot the bottle in Amdavad in Gujarat to wish you well.”
After a performance from Scottish band Elephant Sessions the handover ceremony began, officially transferring host duties to the city of Amdavad.
The lowering of the Commonwealth Sport flag on the concourse outside the Hydro was shown on the big screen, and the audience heard speeches from the Glasgow 2026 chairman George Black and Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare.
Scottish para-athlete Melanie Woods was also named winner of the David Dixon award, which is given to an “outstanding athlete” at each Commonwealth Games.
To complete the handover, the Commonwealth Sport flag was brought onto the stage and passed from Scottish to Indian officials, ending up with Harsh Sanghavi, deputy first minister of Gujarat province, who bowed when it was placed into his hands.
This was followed by a three-act performance welcoming Amdavad as the next host city, featuring some of India’s biggest dance and music stars.
Dancers in brightly coloured costumes packed the stage for a performance celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram, the national song of India and a symbol of unity, led by actress and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar.
This was followed by a duet featuring Indian sitarist Rishab Rikhiram and Scottish piper Ross Ainslie, in a twist on a classical Indian duet known as a jugalbandi, accompanied by dancers in gold dresses.
The performance ended with a tribute to the Indian state of Gujarat featuring lively performances of some of India’s best-known songs, composed and performed by Shankar Mahadevan and his sons Siddharth and Shivam, and Gujarati singer Bhoom Trivedi.
The Duke of Edinburgh then made his entrance to bring this year’s games to a close, with a speech thanking the athletes, volunteers, officials and organisers.
“You have inspired us and hopefully future generations. You have also demonstrated what unites us. Thank you all, thank you Glasgow,” he said.
The brief address ended: “On behalf of His Majesty the King our patron, and in the name of Commonwealth Sport, I proclaim Glasgow 2026 closed.”
The speech was followed by a “ceilidh for the Commonwealth” organised by street dance group Diversity, with volunteers and some of the athletes joining the dancing.
Glasgow 2026 hero Mop Man, also known as CJ Miller, 25, from Livingston, West Lothian, made an appearance, prompting rapturous cheers as he delivered his signature cleaning-inspired dance routine to the strains of club classic Bits And Pieces.
Glasgow rockers Simple Minds then took to the stage to bring events to a close inside the Hydro.
They finished with their hit Don’t You (Forget About Me), while outside the venue the skies were lit up by a dramatic fireworks display.
