India marks 77th Republic Day at Kartavya Path; EU’s top leaders attend as chief guests

A national showcase with a diplomatic spotlight

India marked its 77th Republic Day on Monday, 26 January 2026, with the main celebrations held along Kartavya Path in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu unfurled the national flag as the national anthem played, accompanied by a 21-gun salute, and the annual parade followed with a mix of military precision, cultural performances and themed tableaux.

This year’s celebration carried added diplomatic significance because two of the European Union’s most senior leaders—European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa—attended as chief guests. Their presence comes ahead of high-level engagements during their India visit, highlighting the growing momentum in India–EU ties.

Themes, tableaux and the message of self-reliance

The Republic Day parade remained focused on India’s evolving defence and development narrative. It highlighted military capability and indigenous strength, while also presenting the country’s cultural diversity through performances and floats representing different regions and achievements. The celebrations also commemorated 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, the national song that holds a strong place in India’s freedom movement memory.

In addition to the traditional parade elements, the day underscored India’s effort to combine ceremony with strategic communication—signalling resilience, modernisation and a forward-looking national identity. Security and crowd management remained tight, as is typical for Republic Day events in the national capital.

Why today mattered beyond the parade

The joint attendance of von der Leyen and Costa is notable because it reflects a broader push to strengthen India–EU engagement across trade, security and technology. Their participation adds a high-profile international dimension to the event, at a moment when both sides are seeking deeper alignment on economic cooperation and geopolitical priorities.

• 77th Republic Day observed on 26 January 2026 with the main parade in New Delhi.
• President Droupadi Murmu presided over the ceremony and flag unfurling at Kartavya Path.
• EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa attended as chief guests, giving the event added diplomatic weight.
• 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ highlighted as part of this year’s national messaging.