EU leaders to be chief guests at Republic Day function

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.