GUWAHATI: The curtain came down on the 2026 Commonwealth Games after 11 days of competition, with Scotland formally handing over the Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton to India during a spectacular closing ceremony on Sunday, marking the beginning of the road to the 2030 centenary edition in Ahmedabad.
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India will host the Commonwealth Games for the second time after New Delhi 2010, becoming only the second nation after Australia to stage the multi-sport event on more than one occasion.
The Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton were handed over to Indian representatives—Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi—during the official handover ceremony.
The closing ceremony began with a celebration of Scotland's cultural heritage before transitioning into a vibrant showcase of India's rich traditions and cultural diversity.
India's presentation was divided into three acts, taking the audience on a journey that celebrated shared values, culture and human connection. The performance was centred on the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- "The World is One Family"- reflecting the Commonwealth's ideals of unity, friendship and inclusivity.
The opening segment also marked 150 years of Vande Mataram, India's national song, while the programme featured an Indo-Scottish cultural 'jugalbandi', with musicians and dancers from both countries delivering a colourful collaborative performance.
India also concluded its Glasgow campaign on a high, finishing fourth in the overall medals table with 39 medals—13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze.
With the ceremonial handover complete, attention now shifts to Ahmedabad, which will host the landmark centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.