CalMac to carry the King’s Baton as Scotland gets set for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

First official baton bearer Duncan Scotland MBE is pictured with Commonwealth Games' mascots, Clyde and Finnie.

Caledonian MacBrayne is set to play a key role in one of Scotland’s biggest sporting celebrations this summer, carrying the King’s Baton to island communities as part of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

From 1 July to 23 July, the baton will journey across Scotland, visiting communities, festivals and events ahead of the Games opening ceremony, where it will join batons from across the Commonwealth.

As part of the nationwide relay, the baton will travel to several islands served by CalMac, including Mull, Lewis and Harris, with ferry crossings providing a vital link in connecting island communities to the historic journey. The relay will also visit Ullapool, helping bring together mainland and island celebrations as excitement builds ahead of the Games.

One of the highlights of the relay will see the Baton travel aboard MV Loch Seaforth from Ullapool to Stornoway, coinciding with the start of the world-famous HebCelt Festival. To mark the occasion, the vessel will be temporarily rebranded as the HebCelt Ferry, celebrating both Scotland’s vibrant cultural heritage and one of the country's largest music festivals.

The Baton’s arrival in Lewis during HebCelt will showcase the unique spirit of island communities, bringing together sport, music, culture and community celebrations as part of a nationwide journey designed to inspire people of all ages.

The announcement comes as CalMac strengthens its partnership with HebCelt and other major island festivals, building on its promotion of island businesses, many of whose products are stocked on board. CalMac will further support both HebCelt and the King’s Baton Relay through its marketing and social media channels, while onboard activities aboard the HebCelt Ferry will help create a memorable experience for passengers travelling to the festival.

CalMac will further support both HebCelt and the King’s Baton Relay through its marketing and social media channels, while onboard activities aboard the newly designated HebCelt Ferry will help create a memorable experience for passengers travelling to the festival.

Peter Griffiths, Head of Brand Marketing at CalMac, said: "Our ferries connect Scotland's islands every day, so we're proud to play our part in helping the King's Baton reach communities across Bute, Mull, Lewis and Harris as part of this nationwide celebration.

"The relay is about bringing people together and celebrating community, culture and sporting achievement. Our vessels will help ensure island communities are part of this unique journey as excitement builds towards Glasgow 2026."

Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive Officer for Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Thank you to CalMac for their support of Team Scotland and our delivery of the King’s Baton Relay. We are preparing for a busy but exciting 23 days of gatherings as it moves around the country and are grateful to CalMac for helping us reach our island communities to spread the excitement of the Relay and the Games as far as we can.”

The Baton Relay announcement also marks the launch of CalMac’s latest campaign, Where Next?, which encourages residents and visitors to explore Scotland’s islands and discover new adventures.

Notes to editors:

About the King’s Baton Relay

The King’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, Monday 10 March 2025, when His Majesty The King placed His Message to the Commonwealth that will be carried as part of the Relay into Scotland’s Baton.

The King’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games and the journey to Glasgow 2026 will take 500 days and reach every corner of the Commonwealth.

All 73 other nations and territories have taken part in the relay celebrations as it has travelled across the Commonwealth. Each has decorated a baton and created special moments to celebrate it’s journey towards the Games and all that it represents.

More information can be found Opens in new windowhere.

About the Scotland leg

The Scotland leg of the King’s Baton Relay commenced on 1 July at the Team Scotland Team Camp in Glasgow.

The Baton will visit a host of communities, events and festivals to celebrate Team Scotland, Scottish sport, the Commonwealth, Scottish culture and the Games.

This year the Relay has been reimagined to make it easier for communities to get involved. Rather than travelling continuously through streets, the Baton will use a hub-and-spoke model, bringing it to selected events across Scotland every day.

Opportunities for the public to engage with events will be promoted by individual event-owners.

Highlighted events:

*Dates and details are subject to change.

About Commonwealth Games Scotland

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is one of 74 Commonwealth Games Associations who are members of Commonwealth Sport.

Commonwealth Games Scotland is the lead body for Commonwealth sport in Scotland, and is the organisation responsible for selecting, preparing and leading Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.

Scotland has competed in every Games since the first Empire Games in 1930 and has hosted the Games three times, twice in Edinburgh 1970 and 1986 and most recently in Glasgow in 2014.

Scotland’s most successful Games were at home at Glasgow 2014, when Team Scotland won a record 53 medals (19 gold, 15 silver and 19 bronze) to finish fourth on the medal table, closely followed by Birmingham 2022 with 51 medals.

Working closely with Scotland’s national governing bodies of sport and the sportscotland institute of sport, Commonwealth Games Scotland aims to have the best prepared team possible at every Games, creating the right performance environment and giving athletes every opportunity to excel at the Games, as part of a world class sporting system.

Commonwealth Games Scotland and its member sports rely on investment, including National Lottery support, from sportscotland, the national agency for sport. CGS also actively seeks additional support for team preparations from commercial partners, fundraising activities and the Commonwealth Games Endowment Trust.