What's On in Glasgow

Glasgow 2026: Netball - Semi-Final 1 — The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games reaches a fever pitch this morning as the netball semi-finals get underway at the OVO Hydro from 9:00am — and this first showdown promises to be a heart-in-mouth occasion. The Hydro is one of Europe's finest indoor arenas and it will be absolutely roaring with supporters from across the competing nations. Check the website for tickets and availability, because a seat at a Games semi-final is the kind of sporting memory that stays with you.

Glasgow 2026: Boxing — Two sessions of elite amateur boxing take place at the SEC Centre today — the first at 11:00am and the second at 4:30pm — and both promise the raw, electric tension that makes boxing such an unmissable live sport. The compact SEC arena brings you right up close to the action, making every jab and combination feel visceral and immediate. Check the website for tickets, and consider catching both sessions if you want the full dramatic arc of the day's bouts.

In Conversation with Barbara Dickson — One of Scotland's most beloved voices comes to the intimate surroundings of Oran Mor at 3:00pm for what promises to be a genuinely warm and revealing afternoon. Barbara Dickson has lived a remarkable life in music and theatre, and this conversation format lets her tell it in her own words, with all the wit and warmth she's known for. Check the website for tickets — this is the kind of event that sells itself quietly and then sells out completely.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor — The bandstand at Kelvingrove Park is one of Glasgow's most magical open-air venues, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor playing there at 6:30pm on a summer Saturday feels like the stuff of dreams. After her extraordinary cultural moment in recent years she has never felt more beloved, and her catalogue of floor-filling, life-affirming pop is perfect for a warm August evening under the trees. Check the website for tickets — and bring something to stand on, because you will absolutely be dancing.

Capercaillie, Rura & Fara — For something rooted in the very soul of Scotland, head to the Galvanizers Yard at SWG3 at 6:00pm where Celtic legends Capercaillie join acclaimed younger acts Rura and Fara for what should be an extraordinary evening of folk music. This is a rare chance to see three generations of Scottish traditional music sharing one stage, in one of Glasgow's most atmospheric outdoor spaces. Check the website for tickets, and come ready to be genuinely moved.

Thunder Rave - HARDCORE TO DA BONE 2 — If you want your Saturday afternoon to go somewhere entirely unexpected, the Classic Grand Lounge opens its doors at 2:00pm for a full-throttle hardcore rave that wastes absolutely no time getting to the point. This is pure, uncut dancefloor energy — the kind of event that has devoted regulars travelling across the country for it. Tickets are £25–£62, the Classic Grand is a brilliantly grungy venue, and if you leave without at least one ringing ear you weren't paying attention.