Context: The Republic Day Celebrations 2026 at Kartavya Path on January 26, 2026, will be unique blend of 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, India’s military might and cultural diversity.
Chief Guest for Republic Day Parade
- President of the European Council Mr Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will be the Chief Guests for the Republic Day Parade (RDP) 2026.
List of Chief Guest of Republic Day India from 2014 to 2026
2014 — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan
2015 — President Barack Obama, United States
2016 — President François Hollande, France
2017 — Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates
2018 — Multiple guests from ASEAN nations (leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
2019 — President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa
2020 — President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil
2021 — No chief guest (due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 — No chief guest (due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2023 — President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt
2024 — President Emmanuel Macron, France
2025 — President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia
2026 — President Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) & President António Costa (President of the European Council)
150 years of Vande Mataram
- 150 years of Vande Mataram will be the theme of the parade.
- A series of paintings created by Shri Tejendra Kumar Mitra in 1923, illustrating the verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ and published in the ‘Bande Mataram Album’ (1923), will be displayed as view-cutters along Kartavya Path during RDP 2026.
- A banner depicting ‘वंदेमातरम्’ will be unveiled along with the release of rubber balloons at the conclusion of the parade.
- Pan-India band performances on the theme ‘Vande Mataram’ will be organised from January 19 to 26, 2026 by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, and other CAPFs. The performance venues will also include the ancestral home and birthplace of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay at Kanthalpara, Naihati, North 24 Parganas District, West Bengal, presently known as ‘Bankim Bhawan Gaveshana Kendra’ (also referred to as Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Residence and Museum or Bankim Sangrahashala).
- Tableaux will be presented under the broader themes “स्वतंत्रता का मंत्र – वंदे मातरम” and “समृद्धि का मंत्र – आत्मनिर्भर भारत”.
Phased Battle Array Display
- A Battle Array Format to be showcased by the Indian Army for the first time.
- The Indian Army will be represented by a Mounted Column of 61 Cavalry & Battle Array Formation (first time), Seven marching contingents. HMRV (High Mobility Recce Veh – BFSR & ATGM) and Dhruv Heptr, T-90, Main Battle Tank Arjun, BMP-II & NAMIS-II Nag Missile System, IOC (Integrated Operational Centre), UGVs, ATV (All Terrain Veh), LSV (Light Strike Veh) with Trailer (Robotic Mules & UGV), Shaktiban, ATAGS and Dhanush, URLS and Brahmos, Akash & MRSAM, Drone Shakti and Glacier ATV will be the main attractions in the mechanized columns.
- A total of Seven marching contingents of the Army, including animal contingent comprising of Zansker ponies, Bacterian camel and dogs with Handlers Contingent, SCOUTS Contingent, RAJPUT Contingent, ASSAM Contingent, JAK LI Contingent, ARTY Contingent, BHAIRAV Contingent in ‘Uncha Kadam taal’ and Ladakh Scouts will march post the saluting dais.
- Total 18 Marching Contingents and 13 bands will take part in the RDC-2026. The flypast will showcase Rafale, Su-30, P8i, C-295, Mig-29, Apache, LCH, ALH, Mi-17 in different formations.