Watch Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony live here - as he is sworn in as 46th US president

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States (Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States (Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States (Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America today (Wed 20 Jan), with Vice President Kamala Harris taking the oath of office alongside him in Washington DC.

The inauguration ceremony has been scaled back due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with 25,000 national guard members also deployed around the city in a bid to ramp up security following the Capitol Hill riot on 6 January.

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President Donald Trump announced that he won't be attending Biden's inauguration ceremony, which will make him the first president in more than a century to not go to his successor's initiation.

The last president to swerve his successor's inauguration was Andrew Johnson, when he boycotted Ulysses S Grant’s ceremony in 1869.

Watch the ceremony live

What time will the inauguration take place?

Biden will be sworn in as President of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts just before midday local time (5pm GMT), outside the US Capitol.

However, the build-up to the inauguration itself will begin shortly before this.

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In keeping with tradition, both the President and Vice President will be sworn in in front of the Capitol Building, but the traditional inaugural parade along Pennsylvania Avenue will instead be replaced with a virtual 'Parade Across America'.

The ceremony will include musical performances from Lady Gaga - who will sing the national anthem - Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks.

A virtual ball hosted by Tom Hanks, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake will then take place following the ceremony at 8.30pm ET (1.30am GMT).

How to watch the inauguration ceremony

You can live stream the inauguration ceremony here from 4pm GMT (11am ET), with Biden to be sworn in as President just before 5pm GMT. He will then deliver his inaugural address.

A total of 25,000 National Guard troops will be guarding the Capitol, White House and National Mall throughout inauguration day, with these iconic areas also protected by barricades and tall fencing.