India celebrates 77th Republic Day on Kartavya Path, with EU’s top leaders as chief guests

Parade on Kartavya Path highlights defence and culture

India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday, January 26, 2026, with the main ceremony and parade held on Kartavya Path in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu presided over the event as contingents and tableaux moved along the ceremonial boulevard, combining a display of military precision, indigenous defence platforms and cultural performances from across the country.

This year’s celebration also drew attention to the continuing emphasis on domestic capability-building, with the parade featuring equipment and formations aimed at demonstrating readiness as well as modernisation. Cultural segments, including dance and state tableaux, underlined India’s regional diversity and the idea of unity through multiple traditions.

EU leaders attend as chief guests ahead of summit talks

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa attended the Republic Day parade as chief guests, a notable diplomatic signal ahead of the India–EU summit scheduled for January 27. In public remarks after the ceremony, von der Leyen said a successful India contributes to a more stable, prosperous and secure world.

The visit is being viewed in the context of a broader push to deepen cooperation between India and the European Union, including on trade, technology, connectivity, security and climate-related agendas. With India and the EU seeking to expand strategic alignment, the optics of the joint attendance were positioned as part of a larger effort to elevate ties beyond symbolism and into deliverables.

Why Republic Day matters

Republic Day is observed each year on January 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950 and the country’s transition to a republic. The central celebrations in New Delhi are accompanied by events in states and cities nationwide, with security typically heightened given the scale of attendance and the significance of the day.

This year’s Republic Day, held on January 26, 2026, carried added diplomatic weight due to the presence of the EU’s two top leaders together, and the timing—one day before summit meetings—reinforced expectations of substantive announcements in the near term. The parade, meanwhile, continued to serve its annual role as a consolidated national showcase of capability, discipline and cultural breadth.