New Delhi

The 77th Republic Day Parade promises to be a spectacle of India’s history, spiritual and cultural rhythms, military prowess and most importantly the youth who have changed India and brought laurels for it in the global events.

For the first time, the winners of the World Athletic Para Championships, progressive farmers and former beggars who made a fresh start after rehabilitation will be special guests of the ceremonial Republic Day Parade in Delhi, themed on the 150 years of Vande Mataram.

At least 10,000 people from different walks of life have been invited to witness the parade as Special Guests; 2,500 artists will perform as part of the cultural performance.

The President of the European Council & President of the European Commission will be the Chief Guests.

For the first time, a Battle Array Format will be displayed for the public at the Parade, while 30 Tableaux will roll down Kartavya Path.

Army contingent marching during RDP 2026

A series of paintings created by Tejendra Kumar Mitra in 1923, illustrating the verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ and published in the ‘Bande Mataram Album’ (1923), will be displayed as view-cutters along Kartavya Path.

A total of seven marching contingents of the Army, including an animal contingent comprising Zansker ponies, Bacterian camel and dogs with Handlers Contingent, SCOUTS Contingent, RAJPUT Contingent, ASSAM Contingent, JAK LI Contingent, ARTY Contingent, BHAIRAV Contingent in ‘Uncha Kadam taal’ and Ladakh Scouts, will march post the saluting dais.

A total of 18 Marching Contingents and 13 bands will take part in the RDC-2026. The flypast will showcase Rafale, Su-30, P8i, C-295, Mig-29, Apache, LCH, ALH, Mi-17 in different formations.

Another highlight of the Parade will be the veterans’ Tableau by the Indian Air Force.

Around 10,000 people from all walks of society are expected to witness the RDP 2026 at Kartavya Path as Special Guests this year.

They are the people with exemplary work in connection with income and employment generation, technology, innovation, start-ups, Self-Help Groups, and best performers under key government initiatives have been identified with the help of the departments concerned and invited to witness the ceremony.

A cultural performance by the Punjabi artists during RDP rehearsal

he creative team for Vande Mataram comprises M.M. Keeravani as Music Director, Subhash Sehgal as lyricist, Anupam Kher as Narrator, and Santosh Nair as Choreographer, under the overall supervision and direction of Dr Sandhya Purecha.

The names of the enclosures for the parade will be based on the rivers, flowing across the nation, i.e. Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu, Jhelum, Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, Teesta, Vaigai, and Yamuna.

Similarly, for the Beating Retreat Ceremony 2026, naming of enclosures will be based on Indian instruments, i.e., Bansuri, Damaru, Ektara, Esraj, Mridangam, Nagada, Pakhawaj, Santoor, Sarangi, Sarinda, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Surbahar, Tabla and Veena.

A total of 16 Bands selected from 15 States/UTs of India would perform during the national-level event in the MDCN Stadium. These finalist teams will be awarded prizes, and some of the winners will also witness the Republic Day.

Para Military forces contingenet marching in Republic Day Parade

The Fifth edition of Project Veer Gatha was organised as a part of Republic Day Celebrations-2026 to inspire and spread awareness among children about the gallant deeds and sacrifices of the Armed Forces in the form of poem, paragraph/essay writing, painting, drawing, multi-media presentation on the topics like Gallantry Awards Winner/Rani Lakshmibai as role model, the 1857 struggle, role of tribal uprising in freedom struggle.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Ministry of Education from 08.09.2025 to 10.11.2025. A total of approx. 1.92   crore school students have participated across India, and a total of 100 school students have been declared winners of the Veer Gatha 5.0. These winners will be felicitated in New Delhi. They will also attend the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path.

This year, 50 Delhi-based couples from each State/UT dressed in their traditional attire have been sent for the Parade.

The Indian Air Force would fly-past by 29 aircrafts of the armed forces in various formations in the parade.

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This year, the invitation to the various dignitaries would be issued in electronic mode through the dedicated portal for security and push for digitisation.

A post-event Swachhata Campaign in coordination with My Bharat Volunteers and NCC cadets covering a whole stretch of Kartavya Path will be operated.

Delhi Metro will start its operation from 3 AM and is free of cost with RDC invitation/tickets.

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QR codes have been made available with tickets as well as invitations. All enclosures are accessible and Divyang-friendly with a ramp facility. There will be volunteers from NCC and My Bharat to guide the guests. Drinking water, toilet facilities, and first aid booths will be available. Rain ponchos will be provided as a rain contingency measure for all the visitors.