India celebrates the 77th Republic Day on January 26 to mark the day the Constitution of India came into force in 1950.
Every year, the celebrations are marked by a grand procession on Delhi’s Kartavya Trail. This year, however, the 2026 Republic Parade has several new features, including a different enclosure naming system.
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Republic Day Parade 2026: Names of enclosures
This year, all the paddocks have been named after India’s major rivers, according to an official announcement by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The northern side contains the Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Periyar, Ravi, Son, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Satluj, Teesta, Vaigai and Yamuna basins.
The southern side includes the Beas, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Godavari, Sindhu and Jhelum headwaters.
“…to end the VIP culture, we have named all our enclosures for the Republic Day parade after Indian rivers,” Defense Minister Rajesh Kumar Singh told ANI.
The background of the enclosures features themed artwork such as paintings depicting the opening lines of Vande Mataram.
The enclosures for the Beating Retreat ceremony will be named after musical instruments such as Bansuri, Damaru, Ektara and Mridangam.
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Republic Parade 2026: Recommended subway exits
To ensure smoother access to the Republic Day Parade ground, commuters will reportedly be directed to specific metro stations depending on their reserved seating area, PTI reported citing officials.
Pedestrian paths were also lined with corrals to reduce congestion on parade day.
Udyog Bhawan metro station for south side
Those sitting on the south side and in reserved areas such as Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu and Jhelum will be advised to get down to Udyog Bhawan Metro Station.
Central Secretariat Metro Station for North Side
Spectators holding tickets for the north side, with enclosures including Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Son, Satluj, Teesta, Vaigai and Yamuna, have been advised to alight at the Central Secretariat Metro station.
Republic Day Parade 2026: Entry
Entry to the enclosures will only be permitted to persons with a valid ticket for the Republic Parade upon presentation of a pass.
For those who do not take the metro, there is a Park & Ride facility at JLN Stadium and Palika Bazaar for easy access to the enclosures. QR codes on parking tickets guide visitors to designated parking lots.
Republic parade 2026: basic documents
- State-issued identification card
- A physical or digital copy of the Republic Day ID
Visitors are advised to stick to their designated enclosures and avoid overcrowding. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Late arrivals will not be allowed entry.
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Republic Day Parade 2026: Plan
The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will last approximately 90 minutes. It will begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the National War Memorial, where he will lead the nation to pay tribute to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.
The Prime Minister and other dignitaries will then proceed to the salutation stage at the Kartavya trail to witness the procession.
President Droupadi Murmu, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission will be accompanied in a “traditional buggy” by the President’s bodyguard, the highest regiment of the Indian Army.
Traditionally, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the national anthem with a thunderous 21-gun salute using the 105mm light field guns, a domestic artillery weapon system. A 21-gun salute will be presented by the Ceremonial Battery 1721 of the 172nd Field Regiment.
The show will begin with a salute to the president.
A total of 30 paintings – 17 States/Union Territories and 13 Ministries/Departments/Services – will be launched with the broad theme of ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
Republic parade 2026: Security measures
Delhi Police is on high alert with more than 30,000 personnel deployed across the city in a multi-layered security network for the Republic Day celebrations. Around 10,000 policemen are deployed in the New Delhi district alone, which includes the procession route and the high-security zone, officials told PTI.
More than 3,000 CCTV cameras equipped with advanced video analytics and Facial Recognition System (FRS) are installed across the New Delhi area, including the parade route and nearby locations.
