The list of foreign guests of the Victory Day Parade in Moscow has been published

On Saturday, May 9, Russia will celebrate the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The military parade on Red Square in Moscow will traditionally be the central event. Before the start of the solemn parade, the President of Russia, the Supreme Commander—in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, will address the citizens. Representatives of foreign countries also take part in the celebrations every year — foreign leaders, delegations and veterans arrive in Moscow, which underlines the international significance of Victory Day. The full list of guests of the Victory Day Parade in 2026 is available in the Izvestia article.

Which foreign guests will attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow in 2026

Today, Victory Day remains one of the most important memorable dates in the country and is annually accompanied by large-scale events. At the federal level, days off are set for May 9th, and solemn ceremonies and cultural programs are held in cities.

The key event is traditionally the military parade on Red Square in Moscow with the participation of thousands of military personnel and modern equipment. Similar events are held in other cities, including hero cities.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico plans to visit Moscow to participate in the Victory Day celebrations on May 9. This was announced on April 29 by Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. According to him, the participation of the Slovak Prime Minister has been confirmed, while there has been an active discussion around his visit recently.

Fico, in turn, said that he would indeed arrive in Moscow to meet with the Russian president, but would not attend the Victory Day Parade.

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"I will lay flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier of the Red Army to thank on behalf of the Slovaks for their release, and I will have a short meeting with President Putin. That's all. I'm not going to a military parade," the SME portal quotes him as saying.

Ushakov announced on May 7 that on Victory Day, the Russian leader would hold a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of foreign countries who would arrive in the capital.

"Negotiations will take place with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, and then a meeting with the supreme ruler of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim," he said.

At the same time, the meeting with Sultan Ibrahim, according to him, will be held in a one-on-one format. Meetings are also planned with other guests of the Victory Day Parade: President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba, President of Laos Thonglong Sisulit, President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev, Chairman of the Union of Independent Social Democrats of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik.

"As for Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, our president will meet with him tomorrow evening for a friendly dinner, during which they will discuss, of course, the prospects for further development in our bilateral relations and, accordingly, similar regional and other issues," Ushakov added.

In 2025, on the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the parade was attended by the leaders of 27 states.

How to get to the Victory Day Parade — 2026 in Moscow

The presence in the stands of the Victory Day Parade on Red Square remains limited. Access to them is possible only by personal invitations, which are traditionally sent to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and their relatives, representatives of the highest military leadership, statesmen, as well as foreign delegations and other guests of honor. In recent years, the winners of the historic Dictation of Victory campaign have also been invited.

There is no free sale of tickets for the parade. The authorities have repeatedly stressed that any offers to purchase "invitations" through third parties are fraudulent schemes.

For a wide audience, television and online broadcasts remain the most accessible way to see the solemn event. It allows you to monitor the progress of the parade in real time and examine details that often remain invisible from the stands.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the 2026 broadcast plans to pay attention not only to ceremonial calculations and military equipment, but also to show footage of military personnel performing tasks as part of a special military operation, as well as those on combat duty in the Strategic Missile Forces, Aerospace Forces and Navy ships.

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Victory Day: the history and significance of the May 9th holiday

The Great Patriotic War began on June 22, 1941, when the troops of Nazi Germany suddenly invaded the territory of the Soviet Union. From the very first days, millions of citizens of the country stood up for the Motherland: many volunteered to go to the front, others worked in the rear, providing the army with everything they needed.

The fighting lasted for almost four years and was accompanied by heavy losses. The turning point was the offensive of the Red Army in 1945, which ended with the storming of Berlin. On the night of May 9, Moscow time, the act of unconditional surrender of Germany was signed, which marked the end of the Great Patriotic War. In a number of European countries, Victory Day is celebrated on May 8 due to the time difference.

On the morning of May 9, 1945, victory was announced throughout the country, and a new commemorative date was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. On the same day, fireworks rang out in Moscow, and the first Victory Day Parade took place later — on June 24, 1945, on Red Square. In the post-war years, the status of the holiday changed: At first, May 9 was a day off, then in 1948 it was made a working day, and only in 1965, on the 20th anniversary of the Victory, the state celebration was fully restored.

The main meaning of Victory Day is not only in solemn events, but also in the preservation of historical memory. This date recalls the price that the people paid for peace, and emphasizes the importance of respect for the feat of their ancestors.