Simple Minds will take centre stage at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, headlining an all-star Scottish line-up as the city bids farewell to 11 days of sporting action.
The iconic band, who hail from Glasgow, will headline the final celebration on Sunday, August 2, at the OVO Hydro, with organisers promising an emotional send-off that celebrates the athletes, volunteers and people who helped make the games possible.
Tickets and Line-Up
Tickets for the closing ceremony have now gone on sale, with prices ranging from £50 to £95. The tickets are available to purchase on the official Commonwealth Games website.
Joining Simple Minds on the line-up are fellow Scottish musicians Cammy Barnes, BEMZ and Sandi Thom, who will all perform special tributes to Scotland throughout the ceremony. Award-winning Highland group Elephant Sessions will also perform, while singer Shereen Cutkelvin will take part in the ceremonial flag handover, as Glasgow passes the baton to the next Commonwealth Games host, India.
The international line-up will include one of Bollywood's best-known singers, Shankar Mahadevan, alongside actress and film star Rashmika Mandanna. Australian singer Delta Goodrem will also return to the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, 20 years after performing at Melbourne 2006, with a special tribute to Scotland.
Ceremony Highlights
Organisers say the finale will celebrate the biggest sporting moments of the Games, with more than 3,000 athletes competing across 10 sports and six Para sports. It will also shine a light on the event's volunteers, community groups, and cultural organisations that helped bring the event to life.
The ceremony is expected to feature a number of surprise performances. Organisers are keeping the full programme a secret in the lead up to the closing show.
Louisa Mahon, chief marketing and ceremonies officer at Glasgow 2026, said: "The Closing Ceremony is all about connection. It's going to be emotional! It's the moment that as a nation we celebrate Team Scotland and we say thank you to athletes from across the Commonwealth and to the people of Glasgow who got behind the Games. It's time for reflection, but it's also a huge afters – a time to party, in a way that only Glasgow does. Gathered in The Hydro, we will share the story of the Glasgow Games – one that was reimagined and altogether brilliant."
She added: "The ceremony will echo the spirit of the city and bring Glasgow 2026 full circle through enchanting celebration, energising music, captivating culture and jaw-dropping sporting moments."
Meanwhile Tom Davies, executive producer of the Closing Ceremony, stated: "Glasgow is a place where music rings throughout the streets. It's within the fabric of the city, as a UNESCO City of Music. This Closing Ceremony is our second chance to showcase Scotland and its uniqueness on stage at the Hydro, where so many have done before."
Davies added: "The Glasgow 2026 Closing Ceremony is an opportunity to say goodnight to a city, with a huge send off! A moment for the athletes, creativity, music and connection."
Speaking about what to expect from the Closing Ceremony, Tom added: "We're working alongside a brilliant team who have designed and delivered incredible creative for some of the world's biggest ceremonies, concerts and one-off special events and we have no doubt that this line-up will close the Games in a way only Glasgow can."
