2026 Chilean Military Parade
| 2026 Chilean Military Parade | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 September 2026 |
| Venue | O'Higgins Park |
| Locations | Santiago, Chile |
| Country | Chile |
| Participants | 10,206 military, police and security personnel |
The 2026 Chilean Military Parade was held at O'Higgins Park in Santiago on 19 September 2026 to commemorate the «Day of the Glories of the Army».[1]
The 111th edition of the Great Military Parade of Chile, it was the first presided over by President José Antonio Kast and involved 10,206 personnel from the Chilean Armed Forces, Carabineros de Chile, the Investigations Police of Chile (PDI) and Gendarmerie of Chile.[2][3]
With more than 10,000 participants, the parade was the largest in 17 years and was described by Chilevisión as the second-largest deployment of the century. Among the main changes to the annual ceremony were the first participation of Gendarmerie, the return of the PDI after a seven-year absence, and the first participation of the Army's Military Labour Corps (Cuerpo Militar del Trabajo, CMT) with engineering machinery.[3][4]
Background
[edit]The annual military parade is held on 19 September as the principal ceremony commemorating the Day of the Glories of the Army. The 2026 edition was the first held during the presidency of José Antonio Kast.[5]
Preparations for the ceremony included several additions to the traditional parade. Gendarmerie was invited to participate for the first time, while the PDI returned after last participating in 2019. The Military Labour Corps was also included with engineering machinery to mark 50 years since the beginning of construction of the Carretera Austral.[4]
Around 300 Army reservists were also scheduled to participate, together with Mowag armoured vehicles that had recently been used in emergency operations in northern Chile.[6]
Parade
[edit]Kast arrived at O'Higgins Park aboard the traditional presidential Ford Galaxie and received the chicha en cacho offered by the Club de Huasos Gil Letelier. The opening ceremony included a cueca performance involving personnel from the armed forces and security institutions, including Gendarmerie for the first time.[6]
Before the march-past, Kast, Defence Minister Fernando Barros and Army commander-in-chief General Pedro Varela presented the Army's Medal for Valour to seven service members for actions in which they had risked their lives while assisting others.[7][8]
A total of 10,206 personnel participated: 6,219 from the Chilean Army, 1,252 from the Chilean Navy, 1,117 from the Chilean Air Force, 1,220 from Carabineros, 297 from the PDI and 94 from Gendarmerie. Of the total, 1,764 were women.[9][2]
The ceremony lasted approximately three hours. Its aerial component involved around 60 aircraft, while the ground component included military schools, historical formations, motorized and mountain units, special operations personnel and the traditional mounted echelon.[3][10]
First participation of Gendarmerie
[edit]The 2026 parade marked the first participation of Gendarmerie of Chile in the ceremony. A contingent of 94 members of the institution took part in the march-past.[11]
The PDI also returned to the parade with 297 personnel after an absence of seven years, having last participated in 2019.[2][4]
Another first was the participation of the Military Labour Corps with engineering machinery. Its presence commemorated the 50th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the Carretera Austral, a project in which the corps played a major role.[6]
Foreign guests
[edit]The only international guest at the parade was Lieutenant General Oscar Zarich, Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Army.[12][13]
Zarich's attendance followed Varela's visit to Argentina in May 2026 for commemorations of the anniversary of the Argentine Army. During the parade, Varela described the two armies as maintaining broad and permanent relations through joint exercises and exchanges.[6][14]
References
[edit]- ↑ Ortiz, Javiera (19 September 2026). "Quién es Sebastián García-Huidobro, el general que solicitó el inicio de la Parada Militar 2026". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Más de 10.200 funcionarios participaron de la Parada Militar 2026". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Garate, Alonso (19 September 2026). "Parada Militar 2026 completa: Revive el desfile con el mayor despliegue de los últimos 17 años". Chilevisión Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Presidente Kast lidera su primer desfile en honor a las Glorias castrenses con inéditas incorporaciones". Radio Universidad de Chile (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ Dote, Sebastián (17 September 2026). "Parada Militar 2026 en Chile: horario, participantes y los desvíos en el tránsito por el desfile militar". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Presidente Kast lidera su primera Parada Militar y destaca colaboración en seguridad de las FFAA". El Mostrador (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Parada Militar: Entregan Medallas al Valor a siete efectivos por realizar acciones extraordinarias de servicio". CNN Chile (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Siete uniformados recibieron medalla al valor durante la Parada Militar". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Ejército celebra sus glorias en la Gran Parada Militar 2026" (in Spanish). Chilean Army. 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Presidente Kast encabeza la primera Parada Militar de su Gobierno". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Por primera vez desfilaron gendarmes en la Parada Militar". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ ""Marcar la soberanía chilena": Presidente Kast destacó el rol de las FF.AA. durante la Parada Militar 2026". 24 Horas (in Spanish). 19 September 2026. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ Mieres, Francisca (19 September 2026). "Presidente Kast y señal de la Parada Militar 2026 en medio de controversias con países vecinos: "Marcar la soberanía chilena"". Meganoticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ Rivera, Felipe (19 September 2026). "General Varela destaca relación militar con Argentina y releva carácter estratégico de la zona austral". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
