New Delhi: The Republic Day celebrations 2026 at Kartavya Path on January 26 will showcase a distinctive blend of India’s heritage and strength, marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram, alongside a display of the country’s military prowess and cultural diversity. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh shared these details at a press conference in New Delhi.
The Republic Day Parade (RDP) 2026 will have the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as the Chief Guests.
150 years of Vande Mataram
The theme of the parade will celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram. As part of the celebrations, a series of paintings by Tejendra Kumar Mitra, created in 1923 to illustrate the verses of Vande Mataram and published in the Bande Mataram Album, will be displayed as view-cutters along Kartavya Path.
At the conclusion of the parade, a banner depicting ‘वंदेमातरम्’ will be unveiled, accompanied by the release of rubber balloons. From January 19 to 26, 2026, pan-India band performances based on the Vande Mataram theme will be organized by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and other CAPFs. The invitation cards and tickets for RDP 2026 have also been designed around this theme, and videos highlighting Vande Mataram will be screened along Kartavya Path.
The Indian Army’s participation will feature a Mounted Column of the 61 Cavalry and the Battle Array Formation (making its debut), along with seven marching contingents. Mechanized displays will include HMRVs (High Mobility Reconnaissance Vehicles – BFSR & ATGM), Dhruv helicopters, T-90 and Arjun Main Battle Tanks, BMP-II, NAMIS-II Nag Missile Systems, Integrated Operational Centres (IOCs), UGVs, ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles), LSVs (Light Strike Vehicles with Robotic Mules & UGVs), Shaktiban, ATAGS, Dhanush, URSLs, BrahMos, Akash and MRSAM missiles, Drone Shakti, and Glacier ATVs.
The parade will feature seven marching contingents of the Army, including an animal contingent comprising Zanskar ponies, Bactrian camels, and dogs with handlers, as well as the Scouts, Rajput, Assam, JAK LI, Artillery, Bhairav, and Ladakh Scouts contingents. These groups will march in the ‘Uncha Kadam Taal’ formation past the saluting dais.
A total of 18 marching contingents and 13 bands will participate in the Republic Day Parade 2026. The flypast will feature aircraft including the Rafale, Su-30, P-8I, C-295, MiG-29, Apache, LCH, ALH, and Mi-17 flying in various formations.
A special highlight will be the veterans’ tableau by the Indian Air Force, offering a tribute to the contributions of service veterans to the nation.
Special Guests
This year, around 10,000 people from diverse walks of life have been invited to witness the RDP at Kartavya Path. Guests include individuals recognized for exemplary work in income and employment generation, technology, innovation, start-ups, self-help groups, and outstanding performers under key government initiatives, selected with the support of the relevant department
