Details of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony have been announced, with organisers promising "joy, colour and unity" as the mantle for the 2030 Games passes to the Indian city of Amdavad.
Performances and handover segment
Sunday's closing ceremony at the Ovo Hydro will feature some of India's biggest dance and music stars alongside a line-up of Scottish music icons. The event will be headlined by Glasgow band Simple Minds, with additional Scottish stars including Cammy Barnes, Sandi Thom and Elephant Sessions.
The ceremony will also include a three-act "handover segment" welcoming Amdavad, in the state of Gujarat, as the next host. Act one will feature a theatrical performance marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, India's national song, led by actress and Miss World Manushi Chhillar. Act two will present a twist on a classical Indian duet known as a jugalbandi, uniting Indian sitarist Rishab Rikhiram and Scottish piper Ross Ainslie. The finale is a tribute to Gujarat, featuring songs composed and performed by Shankar Mahadevan with his sons Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan, and Gujarati singer Bhoomi Trivedi.
First performances in Scotland
It will be the first time Manushi Chhillar, Shivam Mahadevan and Bhoomi Trivedi have performed in Scotland.
Louisa Mahon, chief marketing and ceremonies officer at Glasgow 2026, said: "This handover is more than a ceremonial formality – it's a spectacle that captures the spirit of two nations coming together on one stage. From the power and poetry of Vande Mataram to the extraordinary dialogue between sitar and pipes, and a finale that brings Gujarat's vibrant culture to life, we're giving Glasgow audiences a first look at the scale and soul of what's coming to Amdavad 2030. It's a privilege to welcome some of India's biggest stars to Scotland for the very first time and to send the Commonwealth Games forward with the joy, colour and unity it deserves."
Chanda Singh, director TCM platform & ceremony director for the India handover segment, said: "Every moment of this handover was designed with one purpose – to make the Commonwealth family feel the warmth, energy and optimism of India. Through this handover ceremony, we wanted to showcase an India that is confident and deeply rooted in its traditions. Amdavad 2030 will celebrate 100 years of the Commonwealth Games and today's ceremony is the first chapter in that journey. We are excited to welcome athletes, fans and nations from across the Commonwealth to experience an India unlike ever before."
Closing 11 days of sport
The ceremony will bring to an end 11 days of sporting action at venues across Glasgow, featuring more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations.
Fans can secure their tickets to the closing ceremony at glasgow2026.com/tickets.
