Simple Minds and Delta Goodrem Close 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Delta Goodrem and Simple Minds headlined the closing ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games on August 2, 2026, at The OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. The event marked the end of the 11-day multi-sport competition, featuring a lineup that included Australian pop star Goodrem and the Scottish rock band Simple Minds.

Goodrem opened the ceremony by welcoming athletes with a medley of her hits, including Born To Try from her 2003 debut album, Innocent Eyes. Her set included the song Eclipse, which she performed at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, and a new track titled Warrior.

Following her solo set, Goodrem performed a version of John Farnham’s You’re the Voice alongside Scottish pop artist Cammy Barnes. This appearance marked Goodrem’s third time performing at a Commonwealth Games, having previously appeared at the 2006 Melbourne and 2018 Gold Coast games.

On Instagram, Goodrem described the event as a way to celebrate the strength, perseverance, heart of the athletes and the unity brought by sports and music.

Simple Minds concluded the ceremony with two songs from their 1980s catalog: Alive and Kicking and Don’t You (Forget About Me). The band, featuring Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, is scheduled to begin the V Tour in February 2027 with arena shows in New Zealand and Australia to celebrate five decades in music.

Other performers at the closing ceremony included Bemz, Elephan Sessions, Shereen Cutkelvin, and Sandi Thom.

Goodrem’s Career Transition and New Label Deal

The Glasgow performance follows a fourth-place finish for Goodrem at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. She is now transitioning to an independent phase of her career with the release of her album, Pure, on November 6, 2026. The album will be released through Better Now Records/Electrola under a new deal with Universal Music.

This upcoming release follows her 2021 collection, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams, released via Sony Music, which served as her fifth leader on the ARIA Albums Chart.

2026 Commonwealth Games Final Standings

The musical performances coincided with Australia’s dominance of the 2026 medals table. Australia secured the top spot with 70 gold medals, followed by England with 29 gold and Canada with 19.

The host nation, Scotland, finished fifth in the medals tally with 13 gold medals, placing ahead of New Zealand, Nigeria, and Jamaica.

The Commonwealth Games features athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, a group comprising England and more than 70 former British Empire territories.