¨     Republic Day parade 2026 will be celebrated for the first time with a battle array display and the theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram.

¨     The Republic Day celebrations 2026 at Kartavya Path will be centred on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, as announced by the Defence Ministry.
¨     The Republic Day Parade will be organised on 26 January and will be attended by the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as Chief Guests.
¨     A phased battle array display by the Indian Army will be showcased for the first time during the parade, highlighting India’s military preparedness.
¨     The overarching theme “150 Years of Vande Mataram” will be reflected across tableaux, visuals, 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.
¨     Pan-India band performances on the Vande Mataram theme will be organised from 19 to 26 January by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other CAPFs across India.
¨     The Indian Army will showcase the phased battle array format for the first time, which will include a mounted column of the 61 Cavalry and seven marching contingents.
¨     The mechanised column will feature platforms such as T-90 and Arjun tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, ATAGS and Dhanush artillery systems, and BrahMos, Akash and MRSAM missile systems.
¨     A total of 30 tableaux from States, Union Territories and ministries will roll down Kartavya Path, showcasing themes of freedom, self-reliance, culture and national development.
¨     The tableaux will broadly align with the themes “स्वतंत्रता का मंत्र – वंदे मातरम” and “समृद्धि का मंत्र – आत्मनिर्भर भारत”.
¨     Nearly 2,500 artists will perform during the cultural programme built around the twin themes of Vande Mataram and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
¨     The celebrations will be followed by Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from 26 to 31 January, showcasing regional cuisine, handicrafts and cultural performances.