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EU leaders to be chief guests at Republic Day function

  • 17 Jan 2026

On 25–27th January 2026, the President of the European Council António Luís Santos da Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will undertake a State Visit to India.

  • The two EU leaders will attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guests, marking a rare joint participation by the European Union at the national event.
  • During the visit, they will co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation across strategic, economic and global issues.
  • The programme includes meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, as well as restricted and delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister.
  • An India-EU Business Forum is also expected to be held on the sidelines of the summit, focusing on trade, investment and industry collaboration.
  • India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004, with ties expanding significantly following the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025.