A traditional military parade to mark Bastille Day took place in central Paris; this year\u2019s event was President Emmanuel Macron\u2019s last in office. The event was attended by 6,500 military personnel, over 300 pieces of military equipment, as well as delegations from the \u00abCoalition of the Willing\u00bb, including 25 Ukrainian soldiers. Leaders of European states who had remained in France following talks on Ukraine were present in the stands.<\/p>\n
Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n Military Bastille Day parade<\/strong> In 2026, Paris hosted a parade featuring over 6,500 soldiers and 300 pieces of military equipment. The procession marched down the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, and the event became a symbol of European military unity. Particular emphasis was placed on international cooperation: 500 military personnel from the \u00abCoalition of the Willing\u00bb \u2013 including Germany \u2013 took part in the parade, as did 25 Ukrainian soldiers.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace described the parade as \u00aba powerful symbol of a Europe that recognises the dangers of the world and is taking its destiny into its own hands\u00bb. For Macron himself, taking part in the ceremony was a personal affair, as this was his final parade as president.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n
The scale and composition of the parade participants<\/h2>\n
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The presence of European leaders and the symbolism of the event<\/h2>\n
Emmanuel Macron\u2019s final parade<\/h2>\n
The air show and the highlights of this year\u2019s celebrations<\/h2>\n