Simple Minds set to bring Waterfront Close
Scottish rock icons Simple Minds will headline the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony at the OVO Hydro on 2 August,
They will bring the curtain down on 11 days of competition. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale from today.(and for those asking the headline wrote itself!)
The band, whose career spans almost five decades, will top a line-up celebrating Scotland’s culture, creativity and sporting achievement.
Joining them will be Scottish artists Cammy Barnes, BEMZ and Sandi Thom, each performing their own tribute to Scotland. Multi-award-winning Highland group Elephant Sessions will also perform, while Shereen Cutkelvin will feature during the ceremonial flag handover.
Reflecting the Commonwealth’s international spirit and welcoming India as the next Games host, Bollywood singer Shankar Mahadevan and actress Rashmika Mandanna will take to the stage.
Australian star Delta Goodrem will also return to a Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, 20 years after performing at Melbourne 2006, with a special tribute to Scotland.
The ceremony will celebrate the athletes, volunteers and communities that have powered Glasgow 2026, as more than 3,000 competitors contest 10 sports and six Para sports across the Games.
Community groups and cultural organisations will be central to the finale, which promises music, celebration and moments of surprise throughout.
Tickets are available across three categories: Category C (£50), Category B (£75) and Category A (£95).
Louisa Mahon, Chief Marketing and Ceremonies Officer at Glasgow 2026, said:
“The Closing Ceremony is all about connection. It’s the moment we celebrate Team Scotland, thank athletes from across the Commonwealth and recognise the people of Glasgow who have embraced the Games. While there will be time for reflection, this is also Glasgow’s chance to celebrate. Gathered in the Hydro, we’ll tell the story of a Games that was reimagined and delivered with brilliance, bringing Glasgow 2026 to a close through music, culture and unforgettable sporting moments.”
Tom Davies, Executive Producer of the Closing Ceremony, said:
“Music is woven into the fabric of Glasgow, a UNESCO City of Music, and the Closing Ceremony is another opportunity to showcase Scotland’s unique energy on one of its biggest stages. This is our chance to give athletes and fans a fitting farewell. Working with an exceptional creative team, we’ve assembled a line-up that will send off Glasgow 2026 in a way only this city can.”
Tickets are available at glasgow2026.com/tickets.