A ticket draw has been announced for a chance to see the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony this summer.

From Monday, fans can sign up to gain access to buy tickets, providing them with a fair opportunity to be at the highly anticipated show.

The event will take place at the Hydro in Glasgow on July 23, and organisers have said the tickets for the ceremony are expected to be in high demand.

Registration for the ticket draw opens at noon on May 18 and people have until 11.59pm on May 26 to sign up.

Registered fans will be selected at random for the chance to purchase tickets and those who are successful will be notified on Monday June 1. Fans will be able to buy up to four tickets the following day.

A detailed view of the official medal for the 2026 Commonwealth Games designed by Militsa Milenkova
The games will take place in Glasgow (Ian MacNicol/PA)

There are four ticket price categories for the Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony, from £45 to £195 for adults. Concession prices will be available from £34 to £146.

George Black, chair at Glasgow 2026, said: “The Opening Ceremony marks the moment we welcome athletes from across the Commonwealth to Glasgow. Gathered in the Hydro, we will share a story of how this incredible city has contributed to the world.

“By entering the ticket draw, we want to give people the opportunity to watch the live action unfold as the Commonwealth comes together in one place to mark the start of the Games.”

The Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony will be presented by Longines, and creative elements of the show will be performed by a local cast of 600 people.

Organisers have said the show has been designed to take the audience on a journey through the city, through Scotland, and the Commonwealth.

Louisa Mahon, chief marketing and ceremonies officer at Glasgow 2026, said: “Glasgow doesn’t do parties quietly and this Opening Ceremony will take that to a new level.

“For the first time in Commonwealth Games’ history, we’re taking the entire show indoors and transforming the Hydro into a fast-paced, immersive live experience packed with energy, surprises and spectacle.”

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney with mascot Finnie during a reception at Edinburgh Castle to celebrate the Commonwealth Games being back in Glasgow
The Games are returning to Glasgow for the first time in 12 years (Jane Barlow/PA)

She added: “This is not a ceremony you will want to watch from a distance. It’s a ceremony you will want to be a part of and feel. With incredible dance and performance, headline acts, breath-taking visuals and the arrival of all 74 Batons from across the Commonwealth, the audience will be surrounded by icons and heroes of the Games from the very first moment.”

Any remaining tickets following the first sale, will be opened to a second wave of registered customers who will be invited to buy tickets from noon on Friday, June 5.

Fans can register for the Opening Ceremony draw from midday on Monday May 18 at www.glasgow2026.com/ceremonies-tickets.

The Games will take place in the city from July 23 to August 2 – 12 years after they were last held in Glasgow.

More than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete across 10 sports and six Para sports at the event.