EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa to be chief guests at next year’s Republic Day

The EU had formally accepted India's invitation to dispatch its top leadership as chief guests at the Republic Day parade in 2026, reported CNBC TV18.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa will be the chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations next year.

The European Union had formally accepted India's invitation to dispatch its top leadership as chief guests at the Republic Day parade last month, reported CNBC TV18. The visit by the top EU leadership will lay the groundwork for further engagement across trade, defence, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

The leaders' visit is expected to coincide with the India-EU Leaders' Summit, slated for January 27 in the national capital. The schedule effectively establishes a deadline for both sides to finalise the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Inviting the EU leadership as chief guests holds symbolic value. New Delhi's decision reflects a broader diplomatic and economic strategy. In recent months, ties between India and the 27-member EU have gained momentum, notably ever since the EU's Commissioners visited India in February this year.

The FTA discussions between India and the EU are reaching towards a final stage as both sides concluded two high-level engagements in Brussels on November 18 and 19, CNBC-TV18 reported in November. Both sides aim to conclude the trade discussions by this year end and finalising the agreement in January next year.