Zero Flags Commonwealth exhibition to shine spotlight on LGBTQ+ rights during Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

An outdoor exhibition highlighting the ongoing criminalisation of same-sex relationships across parts of the Commonwealth is set to open in Glasgow as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme. 

The exhibition, titled Zero Flags Commonwealth, will be unveiled in Candleriggs in Glasgow's Merchant City on 23 July and will serve as the centrepiece of Pride House Glasgow 2026, the official LGBTQ+ community hub for the Games. 

The installation will feature the national flags of Commonwealth countries where consensual same-sex intimacy remains illegal. Each flag will be marked with a black mourning ribbon, symbolising the continuing impact of laws that affect LGBTQ+ communities across the world. 

Organisers say the exhibition aims to encourage public discussion about equality, inclusion and human rights, while drawing attention to the fact that around half of the Commonwealth's 56 member states still criminalise same-sex relationships. Many of these laws have historical links to Britain's colonial past. 

Visitors will be able to access additional information through interpretation panels and QR codes, providing insight into the legal and human rights challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in the countries represented. 

Hugh Torrance, Executive Director of LEAP Sports Scotland, described the exhibition as one he hopes will eventually become unnecessary. He said: "Wouldn't it be wonderful if, at a future Commonwealth Games, there were no flags left to display?" 

The exhibition is a special Commonwealth edition of the internationally recognised Zero Flags Project and was developed through a partnership of organisations committed to equality, human rights and inclusion. According to organisers, the initiative was inspired by community consultation for Pride House Glasgow 2026, which highlighted a desire for meaningful conversations about LGBTQ+ rights to be visible beyond traditional event spaces. 

Pride House Glasgow 2026 will operate across a network of venues in Merchant City, including community, cultural and social spaces, rather than from a single location. The programme will feature discussions, workshops, performances and activities throughout the Games. 

The Zero Flags Commonwealth exhibition will remain on display throughout the Games, which run until 2 August, inviting athletes, visitors and residents alike to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain in securing equal rights across the Commonwealth.