A traditional military parade to mark Bastille Day took place in central Paris; this year’s event was President Emmanuel Macron’s last in office. The event was attended by 6,500 military personnel, over 300 pieces of military equipment, as well as delegations from the «Coalition of the Willing», including 25 Ukrainian soldiers. Leaders of European states who had remained in France following talks on Ukraine were present in the stands.
Briefly about the main points
- The Bastille Day parade in 2026 took place on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
- 6,500 military personnel and over 300 pieces of military equipment took part.
- Twenty-five Ukrainian soldiers and delegations from Europe took part in the parade.
- This is the final parade for French President Emmanuel Macron.
- Among the guests are Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU leaders.
The scale and composition of the parade participants
Military Bastille Day parade In 2026, Paris hosted a parade featuring over 6,500 soldiers and 300 pieces of military equipment. The procession marched down the Champs-Élysées, and the event became a symbol of European military unity. Particular emphasis was placed on international cooperation: 500 military personnel from the «Coalition of the Willing» – including Germany – took part in the parade, as did 25 Ukrainian soldiers.
- 6,500 military personnel taking part in the parade
- Over 300 pieces of equipment
- 500 military personnel from the «Coalition of the Willing»
- 25 Ukrainian soldiers in formation
The presence of European leaders and the symbolism of the event
Leaders of the European Union were present in the gallery, including the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Polish President Donald Tusk, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Among the guests was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who received a warm welcome from the public and French leaders. The presence of these leaders underscored the emphasis on European solidarity and support for Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron’s final parade
For French President Emmanuel Macron, this parade was his tenth and last in office before the 2027 election. Unlike his first parade in 2017, when US President Donald Trump was the guest of honour, this time Macron was surrounded mainly by European leaders. The Élysée Palace described the parade as «a powerful symbol of a Europe that recognises the dangers of the world and is taking its destiny into its own hands». For Macron himself, taking part in the ceremony was a personal affair, as this was his final parade as president.
The air show and the highlights of this year’s celebrations
The parade was accompanied by a flypast by the elite Patrouille de France aerobatic team, which left a trail in the sky in the colours of the French flag. They were joined by aircraft Mirage 2000, piloted by French and Ukrainian pilots currently undergoing training in France. They were followed by allied aircraft, including AWACS aircraft equipped with radar systems. The celebrations began the evening before with fireworks near the Eiffel Tower; however, due to the heatwave and wildfires in several regions, the use of fireworks by the public was restricted.
- A flypast by the Patrouille de France featuring the colours of the flag
- Ukrainian pilots’ participation in the air show
- Restrictions on fireworks due to the heatwave and fires
The European context: negotiations on EU enlargement
In parallel with the parade in Brussels, talks were taking place regarding the enlargement of the European Union. Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine have made progress in their EU accession negotiations. Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, dubbed the day «Super Tuesday», emphasising that this was the first time in over 20 years that four enlargement conferences had taken place on the same day. Montenegro remains the frontrunner among the candidate countries, but all four countries are demonstrating progress in implementing reforms.
