Thousands enjoy free music and arts at 2026 Glasgow Mela

Thousands filled Kelvingrove Park as the 2026 Glasgow Mela brought a day of free international music and arts to the city’s west end.

Despite the damp weather, spirits remained high as 21,000 people turned out on Sunday 5 July to enjoy performances spanning everything from traditional beats to modern sounds.

As a key event of the Glasgow 2026 Festival (23 May-9 August), which is transforming the city into a summer-long cultural showcase before, during and after the Commonwealth Games, the Mela was packed full of standout performances and special commissions by artists from around the Commonwealth.

The Mela was part of Glasgow Life’s 2026 Summer of Events programme, which also includes the Merchant City Festival (24 July-2 August) and World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green (14 and 15 August).

Throughout the day, festivalgoers were treated to Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, hip-hop, alt-rock, qawwali, folk, jazz, soul, Indian classical and electronic crossover music.

The crowds at the Glasgow Mela, Scotland’s largest South Asian festival, soaked up headline performances from Glasgow-based Bhangra, hip-hop and electronic music DJ Gtown Desi, modern Punjabi folk band Apna Sangeet, and Punjabi musician and vocalist Nachhatar Gill.

This year’s event saw 145 artists entertain festivalgoers, both on-stage and in workshop and writer in residence tents. Of the artists who took part, 115 were based in Scotland and around 60% performed at the Glasgow Mela for the first time.

With Glasgow getting ready to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games (23 July-2 August), the King’s Baton Relay visited this year’s Mela to celebrate Team Scotland, Scottish sport, the Commonwealth, Scottish culture and the Games itself. Glasgow 2026 mascot Finnie also appeared as the baton made its way round Kelvingrove Park.

The Mela’s creative workshops and interactive events attracted a lot of attention. Among the activities on offer were a Commonwealth Games-related craft session and an In Conversation: Our Shared Cultural Heritage and Glasgow Museums Intercultural Youth Group discussion led by young South Asians covering heritage, museums and colonialism and its legacies.

There was also a music, memory and movement-focused event held by Playlist for Life, a UK charity that uses music to support people affected by dementia, and Tarang Art and Wellbeing Association of Scotland (TAWAS), a Glasgow organisation that supports diverse communities through dance and wellbeing activities.

The Mela food and market stalls proved popular throughout the event, while festivalgoers also made the most of the chance to play a range of sports, including archery, cricket, hockey and tennis.

Julie Pearson, Head of Events at Glasgow Life, said: “The Glasgow Mela kicked off a thrilling summer of culture and sport in Glasgow with a day of music, dance and arts to remember. Glasgow is a culturally diverse, creative and welcoming city, and this year’s Mela was a shining example of Glasgow’s cultural sector at its best. The fantastic scenes and breathtaking performances are set to continue as part of our Summer of Events, with the Merchant City Festival and World Pipe Band Championships just around the corner.”