Paris marked Bastille Day (France’s national day) on July 14, 2026, with its annual military parade down the Champs-Élysées, running from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde in front of President Emmanuel Macron — his last such parade before his term ends in 2027. As usual, the French Foreign Legion participated.
2e REI: NATO’s Allied Reaction Force
Starting in early July 2026, legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) will form the core of a forward battalion held at 48-hour readiness for a one-year rotation as part of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force (ARF) — the alliance’s revamped rapid response mechanism, which replaced the earlier NATO Response Force.
Foreign Legion: 2026 Victory in Europe Day
On May 8, 2026, French Foreign Legion units commemorated the 81st anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, marking the definitive overall surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces in 1945. As every year, legionnaires took part in ceremonies held both in France and overseas to honor the veterans and fallen soldiers of the conflict.
1er REG: Legionnaire Died During Training
On the night of May 4–5, 2026, a legionnaire of the French Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) died during a night military diving exercise in the Maine River in Angers, western France. A second French soldier also died in the same incident.
1er REG: Exercise Terra Nostra 2026
From March 16 to 25, 2026, the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG), a combat engineer unit of the French Foreign Legion garrisoned at Laudun-L’Ardoise in southern France, conducted Exercise Terra Nostra 2026.
Foreign Legion: 2025 Christmas Challenges
In mid-December 2025, a series of Challenges de Noël (Christmas Challenges) took place in regiments of the French Foreign Legion, both in France and abroad. These anual events are friendly competitions between companies of the same regiment. They are not about winning alone, but about building fighting spirit, teamwork, and unit cohesion. For hard-working legionnaires, the challenges also bring a moment of fun and relaxation. They are usually organized shortly before Christmas.
1er REG, 2e REG: 2025 Saint Barbara Day
In early December 2025, the combat engineers of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) of the French Foreign Legion once again commemorated their patron, Saint Barbara (Sainte Barbe in French).
1er REG: Retirement of the Legion’s only British officer
In late November 2025, the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) of the French Foreign Legion announced the retirement of Captain Stephen H., an exceptional figure in today’s Legion and its only serving British officer in recent decades.
Read more1er REG: Retirement of the Legion’s only British officer
Foreign Legion: 2025 Armistice Day
On November 11, 2025, detachments of the French Foreign Legion participated in ceremonies marking Armistice Day, honoring the memory of military veterans and those who died in the line of duty.
1er REG: 1st Company in Guiana in 2025
From June to October 2025, legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) were deployed to French Guiana, South America, as part of a short-term overseas mission (mission de courte durée, MCD).
Foreign Legion: 2025 Change of Command took place in six regiments
During the summer of 2025, several regiments within the French Foreign Legion underwent significant leadership changes, reflecting the regular rotation of senior officers across this elite force. These appointments are part of the French Army’s standard two-year command rotation cycle and affect both mainland and overseas units.
Read moreForeign Legion: 2025 Change of Command took place in six regiments