EU leaders attend India’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi, boosting global spotlight on India-Europe ties

A Republic Day with a global audience

India’s Republic Day parade on Monday, 26 January 2026, drew notable international attention with the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa as chief guests in New Delhi. The parade, held on Kartavya Path, is the country’s most visible annual ceremony marking the Constitution’s adoption in 1950.

Their attendance placed India’s national celebration in the broader context of international diplomacy, with the visiting leaders appearing alongside Indian officials and taking part in public ceremonial engagements connected to the day.

Defence and culture on the same boulevard

As always, the parade combined military and cultural elements. Marching contingents from the military and paramilitary forces proceeded down the boulevard, while India’s domestically produced defence hardware featured prominently among the moving platforms, reinforcing New Delhi’s emphasis on indigenous capability.

Alongside the defence segment, cultural troupes and floats displayed regional traditions and imagery, using dance and presentation to reflect India’s diversity. Crowds watched from the route’s edges as the ceremony moved through successive blocks of performances and formations.

A flypast finale and heightened security nationwide

The parade ended with an Indian Air Force flypast, including fighter jets and transport aircraft, adding a signature concluding flourish to the capital’s celebrations. Elsewhere, state capitals and major cities also held Republic Day parades amid heightened security measures, reinforcing that the day is observed nationwide, not only in New Delhi.

For India-Europe relations, the presence of the two EU leaders served as a symbolic signal of engagement and attention, framed within one of India’s most watched national ceremonies.