The opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow featured a 200-square-meter garden as its centerpiece, designed by Amalie White and plantsman Jamie Butterworth.
The circular garden, 15 metres in diameter, sat on giant wheeled trays weighing a tonne each. Crews moved it into position by hand in under two minutes. Once in place, it served as the stage where King Charles III and Queen Camilla emerged from a replica of Doctor Who’s Tardis, surrounded by plants chosen to reflect Scotland’s natural scenery.
White called the design a meeting point of sport, nature, culture, and art. The garden’s structure began with a single Celtic knot projected as woven light, expanding into an infinite loop of paths converging at its centre.
Related: Jo Thompson appointed head of garden design studies
Butterworth grew the plants peat-free at his Form Plants nursery, selecting species for texture and durability. The palette included ornamental grasses like Molinia and Sesleria, along with perennials such as Agastache, Perovskia, and thistles. He aimed to capture the essence of Scotland’s coasts, highlands, and lochs—soft up close but unified from afar, similar to tartan or tweed.
From fashion runways to the Commonwealth stage
White and Butterworth had worked together before, including on Gucci’s 2025 Cruise show at Tate Modern. That project drew inspiration from King Charles’ long-standing support for environmental causes. Both installations shared an approach that blended cultivated gardens with wild nature.
The garden’s modular design enabled quick scene changes, a necessity for the ceremony’s fast transitions. Its purpose extended beyond logistics. For athletes entering the arena, it provided a sense of place—a temporary home for the Games that will later be relocated. Its final destination remains unannounced.
Related: Changi resort revives affordable family chalets
The designers saw the project as an opportunity to demonstrate horticulture’s role on a global stage. The garden wasn’t just decoration; it became part of the narrative, linking the event to Scotland’s heritage in textiles and shipbuilding. The plant choices also carried significance, with each species selected for its ability to endure the unpredictable conditions of a live performance.
Gardens, often viewed as static displays, proved as dynamic as the events they framed. The 2026 Commonwealth Games didn’t just open with a garden; the ceremony unfolded within one, making horticulture a key element rather than a backdrop.
