Flags to fly at 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

An outdoor exhibition, titled Zero Flags Commonwealth, will fly the national flags of Commonwealth countries that continue to criminalise consensual same-sex intimacy.

These flags will be displayed in Candleriggs, each marked with a black mourning ribbon to signify the ongoing discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in those nations.

Hugh Torrance, executive director of LEAP Sports Scotland, said: "This is an exhibition that should ultimately cease to exist.

"Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, at a future Commonwealth Games, there were no flags left to display?

"Zero Flags Commonwealth shines a light on the uncomfortable reality that many Commonwealth nations still criminalise consensual same-sex intimacy.

"It also asks us to confront how we got here and where we go next.

"Many of these laws have their roots in Britain’s colonial past, and this is a moment to acknowledge that shared history, recognise the consequences people continue to face today and work together towards meaningful progress."

Of the 56 member states in the Commonwealth, half continue to criminalise consensual same-sex intimacy.

Many of these laws have origins in British colonial rule.

The exhibition will include information panels and QR codes to help visitors learn about the legal and human rights challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in each country represented.

Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said: "There are moments when sport goes beyond the medals.

"For me, Pride House at Glasgow 2026 and the Zero Flags Commonwealth installation represent one of those moments.

"As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I know what it means to feel welcomed to this city; to be accepted and to be able to be your true self.

"For far too many people across the world, those freedoms cannot be taken for granted.

"That is why we are so proud that Glasgow 2026 has helped create a space and a platform for this conversation, and why I am grateful to all those who has made this powerful installation possible."

The exhibition will serve as the centrepiece of Pride House Glasgow 2026, the official LGBTQ+ community hub of the Games.

It will open on July 23 and will remain in place throughout the Games, which conclude on August 2.

Pride House will also offer information, advice, and one-to-one support for athletes and their delegations.

Glasgow previously hosted the first Pride House in Commonwealth Games history in 2014.

Organisers, after consulting with LGBTQ+ communities, sporting organisations, and partners, have redesigned the traditional singular venue model.

Instead, a campus of spaces, exhibitions, and installations will be spread throughout Glasgow’s Merchant City.

This approach aims to take Pride House beyond a single building and into the heart of the city, making conversations about equality, inclusion, and human rights accessible to all.

Alex Johnston, legacy manager at Glasgow 2026, said: "Pride House 2026 will be a welcoming, vibrant, and enjoyable space for LGBTQ+ people and their allies to come together in Glasgow and celebrate the Games.

"It will provide a collective platform to influence and drive positive change for LGBTQ+ acceptance and equality across sport and the Commonwealth."

Spaces will include the Pride House Lounge at Woody’s, the Reading Room at Bigglestones Books, and the Events Room at The Boardwalk.

The Lounge will open daily from 10am until late during the Games, offering a place to watch live sport, meet others, find information and take part in events. The wider programme will include panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, live performances, exhibitions, and community gatherings.

An additional exhibition will be displayed across 12 windows at Wheatley House on Ingram Street, which highlights participation and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people from across Scotland in sport and physical activity.

A community-created cyanotype Saltire—Scotland’s national flag—by artist Alixandra Prybyla will also be unveiled.

The full Pride House programme will run for 10 weeks, featuring cultural events, sports activities, and community workshops aiming to create a welcoming and celebratory environment throughout Glasgow.