Q: Why is the Opening Ceremony being held in an arena rather than a stadium?
A: This is a deliberate and considered choice — one that reflects exactly what Glasgow 2026 is about. Staging the Opening Ceremony at The Hydro places it in one of the world's premier live entertainment venues, consistently ranked among the best arenas on the planet.
It brings the ceremony closer to the audience, creates an atmosphere that a stadium simply cannot replicate, and signals clearly that these are Games prepared to do things differently. This is not a stadium ceremony scaled down. It is a new kind of ceremony entirely
Q: In 2014 the Opening Ceremony was held at Celtic Park which is a considerably higher capacity. Will this mean that the ceremony be smaller / scaled-back / less spectacular?
A: Not at all. The Hydro is a world-class venue that hosts the biggest names in global entertainment. The choice of an arena is about putting athletes and the audience at the heart of the action — intimate, electric, and built for atmosphere rather than scale for its own sake. Every seat will be close. Every moment will land. Done Glasgow’s way, we believe the result will be more impactful, not less.
Q: How many people will be able to attend the Opening Ceremony?
A: The Hydro has a capacity of approximately 13,000 and ticketing information will be released in the coming weeks
Q: Will the Opening Ceremony be broadcast and free-to-air?
A: The Opening Ceremony will be broadcast to audiences around the world thanks to our incredible rightsholders, including Warner Bros. Discovery in the UK.
Further details on broadcast partners and arrangements will be confirmed in due course.