The Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, will carry special national and historical significance, with the celebrations themed around the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, India’s national song. The annual parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi will not only showcase India’s military strength and defence preparedness but will also place strong emphasis on the cultural and historical legacy of the iconic song that played a central role in India’s freedom movement.
Announcing the details at a press conference in New Delhi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said the milestone would be commemorated through a series of carefully curated cultural, visual and musical elements spread across the national capital.
In a significant diplomatic highlight, the Defence Secretary confirmed that the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the Republic Day Parade as chief guests. Their presence underlines India’s growing strategic and political engagement with the European Union.
One of the centrepieces of the celebrations will be a large-scale visual tribute to ‘Vande Mataram’ along Kartavya Path. Paintings created in 1923 by noted artist Tejendra Kumar Mitra, depicting verses of the song, will be installed as view-cutters along the entire parade route, offering spectators a blend of art, history and patriotism.
Complementing this, pan-India band performances themed around ‘Vande Mataram’ will be organised from January 19 to January 26. These performances will feature bands from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and central armed police forces. Special performances are also scheduled at Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s ancestral home in West Bengal, paying homage to the author of the national song.
The Republic Day parade will feature tableaux built around the themes ‘Svatantrata Ka Mantr – Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi Ka Mantr – Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. The central theme will be reflected not just in the parade but also in invitation cards, floral decorations and digital installations across the venue.
The government has also sought to encourage public participation through online competitions hosted on the MyGov and My Bharat platforms. According to officials, these initiatives focused on ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ have already drawn participation from over 1.61 lakh citizens.
On the defence front, the parade is expected to feature a phased Battle Array Display showcasing India’s key military platforms and indigenous capabilities. Among the highlights will be T-90 tanks, Arjun main battle tanks, BrahMos and Akash missile systems, MRSAM platforms, as well as drones and unmanned vehicles.
The marching segment of the parade will include 18 contingents and 13 military bands. The aerial flypast will feature frontline aircraft such as Rafale and Su-30 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters and Light Combat Helicopters.
Emphasising the inclusive spirit of Republic Day, around 10,000 special guests from across the country have been invited to attend the parade. These include para-athletes, farmers practising natural farming, members of the transgender community, beneficiaries rehabilitated under the PM SMILE scheme, scientists and technical experts associated with major ISRO missions such as Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan, senior executives from companies supported under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and DRDO scientists working on critical defence projects.
Officials said the Republic Day 2026 celebrations aim to reflect both India’s proud civilisational heritage and its aspirations as a self-reliant and technologically advanced nation, with ‘Vande Mataram’ serving as the unifying thread across cultural, military and civic displays.
