École Polytechnique at the Bastille Day military parade, marking Europe’s strategic reawakening

Students from the Cycle Ingénieur polytechnicien Class of X2025 participated in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Élysées, alongside units from the armed forces and departments and agencies of the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

Under the theme “Europe’s Strategic Awakening” and support for Ukraine, the 2026 Bastille Day military parade highlighted the ability of the armed forces and internal security forces to act in a coordinated manner to defend France’s interests, protect its citizens, and ensure the security of its allies.

Twenty-five heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, attended the military parade—the last one presided over by Emmanuel Macron, whose second term as head of state is set to end on May 13, 2027. 

Thirty-five foreign delegations, each consisting of 7 to 25 soldiers and representing the coalition of volunteers supporting Ukraine, marched alongside French troops.

The École Polytechnique detachment, under the command of Colonel Cyrille Caron, the School’s commandant, consisted of 360 cadets and their instructors. The commandant led the procession, followed by the School’s flag and its honor guard—composed of six cadet officers—and then by Lieutenant Colonel Virginie Gallet, commander of the X2025 class. As the first woman to hold this position at École Polytechnique, she led the two parade platoons, each consisting of two company commanding officers, four section chief noncommissioned officers, and 180 cadets.

Through their presence on the Champs-Élysées, the cadets demonstrated École Polytechnique’s mission to train engineers, scientists, and future leaders who will apply their skills in the service of the state, national defense, and the public interest.

The theme chosen for the parade highlighted the new demands of the European strategic environment as well as the complementary nature of military capabilities, whether in intelligence, planning, land, naval, and air operations, or armed forces support. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the military and domestic security forces in responding to an ever-changing spectrum of threats.

Among the officer cadets who marched in the parade were several Polytech graduates who had recently participated in operations in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, notably as part of the naval aviation group. Their participation demonstrated the operational experience they had gained during their military training and served as a concrete illustration of the commitment that characterizes the curriculum for Polytech engineering students.

As it does every year, École Polytechnique’s participation in the Bastille Day parade served as a reminder of the institution’s unique role within the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Building on a military tradition dating back more than two centuries, the school trains men and women who are called upon to combine scientific excellence, a sense of responsibility, and a commitment to serving the nation, within a rapidly evolving strategic context.