Republic Day 2026: Theme, Chief Guest & Parade Highlights

Source : Wion

India is celebrating its 77th Republic Day today, January 26, 2026, with a grand spectacle at Kartavya Path that blends military strength with a major tribute to the national song. 

For the first time, dual leaders from the European Union—Antonio Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission)—are the Chief Guests, signaling a strategic tilt toward the EU.

The 2026 celebrations revolve around “150 Years of Vande Mataram” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India).

 A major highlight of the parade is the tri-services tableau and flypast commemorating Operation Sindoor (2025). The Indian Air Force’s “Sindoor Formation” features Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and Jaguar jets.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Ashoka Chakra on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS).

The parade features a “Phased Battle Array Formation” for the first time, showcasing the T-90 Bhishma, Arjun tanks, and the S-400 air defense system. DRDO also debuted a long-range hypersonic glide missile (LR-AShM).

Newly introduced “Him Yodhas” include Bactrian camels and Zanskar ponies trained for extreme high-altitude terrain. Around 10,000 “special guests” were invited, including construction workers from the Kartavya Path project, ISRO scientists from recent missions, and Para Athletic champions. 

The grand parade began at 10:30 AM and is expected to last approximately 90 minutes. Delhi is under a multi-layered security net with over 30,000 personnel. For the first time, police are using AI-enabled smart glasses for facial recognition and threat detection.  A six-day festival at the Red Fort (Jan 26–31) starts today, showcasing traditional handicrafts and cuisine from across India. 

Padma Awards 2026

The government announced 131 Padma awards on the eve of Republic Day, including: 

• Padma Vibhushan: Posthumously awarded to late actor Dharmendra and former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan.
• Padma Shri: Awarded to Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma and former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati.