Spain National Day

Spain National Day

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  1. 1492Columbus reaches the Americas — the Spanish Empire begins
  2. 1978Spanish constitution adopted — transition to democracy after Franco
  3. 2017Catalan independence crisis — Spain's unity debated publicly

Why Spain celebrates 12 October

Spain celebrates its National Day on 12 October — Columbus Day, marking the date in 1492 when Christopher Columbus first reached the Americas. The holiday is called Día de la Hispanidad — Day of Hispanidad — and celebrates the Spanish language, culture and history shared by Spain and the 20 countries of Latin America.

The choice of 12 October is not without controversy — it marks the beginning of a conquest that had devastating consequences for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. But in Spain, the holiday is primarily framed as a celebration of the Spanish-speaking world's cultural unity — the common heritage of language, literature, religion and tradition that connects over 500 million people.

The day is marked in Madrid with the biggest military parade in Europe — aircraft, armour and thousands of troops pass before the King and Queen on Paseo de la Castellana. The ceremony is attended by the government and the royal family. Across Spain, regional celebrations take different forms — Catalonia and the Basque Country often hold alternative events reflecting their distinct identities.

  1. 202612 October 2026 · Monday
  2. 202712 October 2027 · Tuesday
  3. 202812 October 2028 · Thursday
The Spanish flag
Spain flag

The Spanish flag has three horizontal bands — red, yellow and red — with the Spanish coat of arms slightly to the left of centre. The red and yellow colours were the colours of the medieval kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. The coat of arms contains the pillars of Hercules, the castles of Castile, the lions of León, the chains of Navarre and the pomegranate of Granada.

Spanish cuisine is one of the world's great food cultures — regional, diverse and built on the finest ingredients. From the pintxos of the Basque Country to the paella of Valencia, the gazpacho of Andalusia and the jamón of Extremadura, Spain has produced a food tradition of extraordinary depth.

What to eat

Jamón ibéricoAcorn-fed Iberian cured ham — sliced paper-thin and considered among the world's finest charcuterie.
PaellaValencian rice cooked in a wide shallow pan with saffron, chicken, rabbit and green beans — or seafood versions.
Tortilla españolaPotato and egg omelette — one of Spain's most beloved everyday dishes, served at room temperature.
GazpachoCold tomato soup blended with pepper, cucumber and garlic — the essential Andalusian summer dish.
CroquetasCreamy béchamel croquettes filled with jamón or bacalao — found at every tapas bar in Spain.
Churros con chocolateFried dough strips dipped in thick hot chocolate — eaten for breakfast or as a late-night snack.

What to drink

Rioja wineSpain's most internationally celebrated red wine — Tempranillo from the Rioja Alta region.
CavaCatalan sparkling wine — made by the traditional method in Penedès, the Spanish alternative to Champagne.
SangriaRed wine with brandy, orange juice and fruit — the Spanish party drink served cold in large pitchers.
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Spain culture

Spain's cultural legacy spans Velázquez, Goya, Picasso and Dalí in painting; Cervantes and Lorca in literature; flamenco, bullfighting and football in performance. Its regional diversity — Catalan, Basque, Galician, Castilian — makes Spain one of Europe's most culturally rich nations.

Madrid military paradeThe largest military parade in Europe — tens of thousands of troops, aircraft and armoured vehicles.
FlamencoUNESCO-listed Andalusian music and dance — passion, rhythm and the cry of duende performed in tablaos.
Sagrada FamíliaGaudí's unfinished Barcelona cathedral — the most visited monument in Spain and one of the world's great architectural projects.
Real Madrid vs BarcelonaThe Clásico — the world's most watched football fixture, contested between Spain's two greatest clubs.