Republic Day Parade 2026 to feature first-ever battle array display, mark 150 years of Vande Mataram
Republic Day celebrations 2026 at Kartavya Path will centre on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, blending India’s military strength with its cultural diversity, the Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said the Republic Day Parade (RDP) on January 26 will feature a range of first-time attractions, including a phased battle array display by the Indian Army, while the President of the European Council António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend as chief guests.
150 years of Vande Mataram as central theme
The parade’s overarching theme, “150 Years of Vande Mataram”, will be reflected across visuals, tableaux, music, decorations and cultural performances. A series of paintings created in 1923 by artist Tejendra Kumar Mitra, illustrating the verses of Vande Mataram, will be displayed along Kartavya Path as view-cutters. A large banner depicting “वंदेमातरम्” will be unveiled at the conclusion of the parade, accompanied by the release of rubber balloons.
Pan-India band performances on the Vande Mataram theme will be organised from January 19 to 26 by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other CAPFs, including a special performance at Bankim Bhawan in West Bengal, the ancestral home of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Floral decorations, invitation cards and audio-visual presentations at Kartavya Path will also reflect the theme.
The tableaux will broadly align with the themes “स्वतंत्रता का मंत्र – वंदे मातरम” and “समृद्धि का मंत्र – आत्मनिर्भर भारत”.
First-ever phased battle array display
The Indian Army will showcase a phased battle array format for the first time, alongside a mounted column of 61 Cavalry and seven marching contingents. The mechanised columns will feature platforms such as T-90 tanks, Arjun main battle tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, ATAGS and Dhanush artillery systems, BrahMos, Akash and MRSAM missile systems, drones, unmanned ground vehicles and specialised all-terrain platforms.
Animal contingents, including Zanskar ponies, Bactrian camels and dogs with handlers, will also be part of the parade. In total, 18 marching contingents and 13 military bands will participate.
The flypast, the grand finale of the parade, will feature 29 aircraft, including Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29, Apache, LCH, ALH, Mi-17, P-8I and C-295 in multiple formations. A special veterans’ tableau by the Indian Air Force highlighting their contribution to nation-building will be another key attraction.
30 tableaux from states, UTs and ministries
A total of 30 tableaux — 17 from states and Union Territories and 13 from ministries and departments — will roll down Kartavya Path. These will showcase themes ranging from freedom, self-reliance and innovation to culture, heritage and national development.
Special guests from across society
Around 10,000 people from diverse backgrounds will attend the parade as special guests, including farmers, artisans, scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, women self-help group members, start-up founders, sportspersons, students, tribal representatives, sanitation workers and beneficiaries of key government schemes. Foreign delegates and youth exchange programme participants will also be present.
Cultural performance and creative team
Nearly 2,500 artists will perform during the cultural programme at Kartavya Path, built around the twin themes of Vande Mataram and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The creative team includes music director M.M. Keeravani, lyricist Subhash Sehgal, narrator Anupam Kher and choreographer Santosh Nair, under the supervision of Dr Sandhya Purecha.
Public participation and citizen facilities
The government has increased public seating to ensure greater participation, with tickets available online and offline. Free metro travel and park-and-ride facilities will be provided to ticket holders, while all enclosures will be Divyang-friendly. A post-event Swachhata campaign involving NCC cadets and volunteers will also be carried out.
The Republic Day celebrations will be followed by Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from January 26 to 31, showcasing tableaux, regional cuisine, handicrafts and cultural performances, and the Prime Minister’s NCC Rally on January 28 at Cariappa Parade Ground.
