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.
The Chief Guest for this years’ Republic Day Parade is President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The theme of the parade is 150 years of Vande Mataram. A series of paintings created by 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 parade 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 is being 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 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’. Floral decorations in front of the rostrum/dais will be executed based on the Vande Mataram theme. Videos on Vande Mataram will be played on screen at Kartavya Path.
Phased Battle Array Display
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,
For Beating Retreat Ceremony 2026, naming of enclosures will be based on Indian Instruments I.e. Bansuri, Damaru, Ektara, Esraj, Mridangam, Nagada, Pakhawaj, Santoor, Sarangi, Sarinda, Sarod, etc.
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. Another highlight of the parade will be veterans’ Tableau by Indian Air Force. It will provide a glimpse of veterans’ contributions for the Nation.
Around 10,000 people from all walks of the society have been invited to witness the parade at Kartavya Path. People with exemplary work in connection with income and employment generation, technology, innovation, start-ups, Self Help Groups, best performers under key government initiatives have been identified with help of departments concerned and invited to witness the ceremony. A total of 30 Tableaux (17 from States/ UTs and 13 from Ministries/Departments/ Services) will roll down the Kartavya Path this year:
Approx 2,500 cultural artists will perform on Kartvyapath this year. The theme of the performance is “स्वतंत्रता का मंत्र – वंदे मातरम” and “समृद्धि का मंत्र – आत्मनिर्भर भारत”. The creative team shall comprise M.M. Keeravani as Music Director, Subhash Sehgal as Lyricist, Anupam Kher as Narrator, and Santosh Nair as Choreographer, under the overall supervision and direction of Dr. Sandhya Purecha. Creative design and costumes shall be handled by Sandhya Raman.
Unique naming of enclosures
Nomenclature of Enclosures for RDP-2026 is based on the River, flowing across the nation, i.e. Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu, Jhelum, Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, Teesta, Vaigai, and Yamuna. Similarly, For Beating Retreat Ceremony 2026, naming of enclosures will be based on Indian Instruments I.e. Bansuri, Damaru, Ektara, Esraj, Mridangam, Nagada, Pakhawaj, Santoor, Sarangi, Sarinda, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Surbahar, Tabla and Veena.
Notably, ‘Bharat Parv’ will be organised at the Red Fort, Delhi from January 26-31, 2026 by the Ministry of Tourism. It will showcase Republic Day Tableaux, Regional Cuisine Display & Sale, Handicraft & Handloom, Culture & Heritage Performances, Central Ministries Stalls and Citizen Engagement Zone.
