Sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma is set to perform at the Closing Ceremony of the XXIII Commonwealth Games on August 2, 2026, at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. The performance will be part of the ceremony marking the conclusion of the eleven-day sporting event and the formal handover to India, host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.
Known for blending traditional Indian classical music with contemporary electronic and ambient sounds, Sharma has emerged as one of the leading names in neo-classical music. The youngest and last disciple of the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar, he also belongs to the renowned Rikhi Ram family of instrument makers. His Glasgow performance comes shortly after joining the music composition team for Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana, alongside Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.
The closing ceremony will feature a 20-minute cultural presentation by India, headlined by National Award-winning composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan, who will perform with his sons Siddharth and Shivam. Sharma will join them on stage as India celebrates its cultural heritage before officially receiving the Commonwealth Games flag.
Speaking about the opportunity, Rishab said, “Performing at the Commonwealth Games and representing India’s deep musical heritage is an absolute honour. I look forward to bringing the spirit and sanctity of classical fusion music to Glasgow.”
With this performance, Sharma joins a distinguished list of Indian musicians who have performed at Commonwealth Games ceremonies over the years, including Sonu Nigam, Shubha Mudgal, Kailash Kher, Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and A.R. Rahman.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, held from July 23 to August 2, feature over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competing across 10 sports and six integrated para-sports. India’s contingent has delivered a strong performance, with notable achievements including Mirabai Chanu’s historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, along with podium finishes by weightlifter Rishikanta Singh and para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar.
