What's On In Glasgow In Summer 2026?
Summer in Glasgow is always electric, but 2026 is going to be something truly special. From global sporting spectacles to legendary live music and world class art, the city is gearing up for a season that will be remembered for years to come. Whether you’re a student, a local, or a visitor, there’s no shortage of events to keep you busy.
Here’s your guide to the biggest things happening in Glasgow next summer.
The Commonwealth Games: Glasgow on the World Stage
From 23 July to 2 August 2026, Glasgow will once again be at the centre of the sporting world as it hosts the Commonwealth Games. Eleven days, dozens of venues, thousands of athletes. The energy will ripple out from Hampden Park, through the Emirates Arena, and across the city’s bustling streets.
The Games are more than medals. They are about watching people push themselves to the edge, about fans from every corner of the globe sharing food, stories and laughter in the same city squares. Glasgow has done this before, and if history is a guide, the city will not just rise to the occasion but glow with pride.
If you have never seen Glasgow at full tilt, this is the moment. From street food stalls to open air screens, there will be countless ways to join in. You can track updates on the official Glasgow 2026 site and start planning which events you want to witness first hand.
Music that Moves the Summer
Summer nights in Glasgow are famous for their soundtrack, and 2026 will bring everything from stadium anthems to intimate park sessions.
Take That: Circus Live
Hampden Park, 12th and 13th June 2026.
Expect a stadium sized show with thousands of voices rising together. Confetti falling all around you, and one of Britain’s biggest pop groups at the heart of it all. Are you ready to go back in time?
Teddy Swims
SMMR Sessions. 28th June 2026
A singer who can turn a crowd into a choir. His voice carries the grit of lived experience, the sort that brings people together in the span of a single song.
My Chemical Romance: Long Live the Black Parade
SMMR Sessions, 4th July 2026
Nostalgia sharpened by electric guitars. Expect fans painted in black eyeliner, chanting lyrics that shaped a generation, each note a reminder of why music lingers long after the amps are switched off.
Summer Nights at the Bandstand
Kelvingrove Park, August 2026
An outdoor festival that feels like a family gathering, only with better lighting and legendary bands. The 2025 edition included acts such as Elbow, Anastacia, and Billy Ocean to name just a few. The park setting, beneath the orange glow of a Glasgow sunset, gives the music a magic that no arena can replicate.
Art, Dance and Culture
Glasgow is not only about sound and sport; it is also a city that lives and breathes creativity.
Glasgow International
5th – 21st June 2026
This biennial celebration of contemporary art transforms the city into an open canvas. Walk through a gallery and you may stumble into an installation that feels more like a conversation than an exhibit. Wander down the Clyde and you might see art spilling out of warehouses and onto the streets.
Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary
25th – 30th August 2026
The thunder of feet, the flash of lights, and three decades of history woven into a performance that bridges tradition with spectacle. At the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, every beat will echo with stories of endurance, precision and joy.
Finding Your Place in the City
One of the wonders of a Glasgow summer is how inclusive it feels. You do not need a front row ticket to be part of the moment. Students walking back from lectures stop to watch buskers in Buchanan Street. Families gather on the grass of Glasgow Green with homemade picnics while strangers cheer for athletes they had never heard of until the day before.
Mature learners, commuters balancing study with work, and those finding their feet far from home will all find that Glasgow has a way of making you feel you belong.
For more information on living and studying here, you can discover everything Glasgow has to offer students.
Making the Most of Glasgow Summer 2026
A summer this rich demands planning. Tickets for concerts will sell out quickly, so grab them early. The Commonwealth Games will make the city lively and at times crowded, so use public transport where you can.
Remember to leave some space for the unplanned moments too though! They can often be the most memorable, and will stop you from feeling blue if you miss out on tickets for the biggest events in the city.
If you’re in search of more ideas, our Glasgow blog page is stacked with the best things to do in the city all year round.
Let’s Go
Glasgow summers are always special, but 2026 really takes the biscuit. It’s going to be one for the all timers list, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
It promises to be a season of stories waiting to be told, of athletes chasing dreams, musicians filling the air with sound, and strangers becoming neighbours for a while. If you are here, you will be part of it, carried along by the city’s rhythm. When the last note fades and the final race is run, you will remember the feeling of being part of something bigger.
So mark your calendar, pack your curiosity, and get ready for a Glasgow summer that’s guaranteed to deliver.