From Classical to Contemporary: Indian Music Stars to Shine at Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony
IIE DIGITAL: At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 closing ceremony, Indian music will take centre stage as legendary singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan is set to perform alongside his sons Siddharth and Shivam.
The 20-minute closing ceremony, scheduled for August 2, will bring together two generations and distinct styles of Indian music. One of the biggest surprises will be the appearance of young sitar player Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma, the youngest and last disciple of legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Rishabh, who became Pandit Ravi Shankar’s disciple at just 10, has since carved out a name for himself on the international stage. His appearance alongside Shankar Mahadevan is expected to add a unique blend of contemporary and classical Indian music to the grand finale.
Indian artists have previously performed at the Commonwealth Games, including Sonu Nigam, Shubha Mudgal, Kailash Kher, Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and A.R. Rahman. This year, Shankar Mahadevan and Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma will carry forward that tradition.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games began on July 23 in Glasgow, with nearly 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories participating. India has sent a 122-member contingent to the multi-sport event.
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