Politics · Spain · 1 hr ago
Spain’s National Day parade draws thousands through central Madrid
Spain marked its National Day on 12 October with a military parade in central Madrid.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presided, accompanied by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
About 4,400 members of the armed forces, security services and public institutions took part.
The route ran from the Emperor Charles V roundabout along the Paseo del Prado and Paseo de Recoletos to Colón Square.
A highlight was a parachute jump by two members of the Air and Space Force’s acrobatic parachute patrol; one carried a Spanish flag measuring 24 square metres.
The date also commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492 and is observed as Spain’s National Day.
The programme included military honours, a tribute to the fallen, and air and ground displays.
Madrid hosted Spain’s National Day military parade on Monday, 12 October 2026, with the event’s central programme starting at 11:00.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presided over the parade, accompanied by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
The procession travelled through central Madrid from the Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V to Plaza de Colón.
La Vanguardia reported 4,380 participants, while El Confidencial said the parade would bring together about 4,400.
The programme included a parachute jump with a Spanish flag, aerial displays and a procession of ground units.
- Who
- King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presided over the parade, joined by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
- What
- Spain’s National Day military parade took place, featuring military and security forces, public institutions, aerial displays and ground units.
- When
- Monday, 12 October 2026; the central event began at 11:00.
- Where
- Central Madrid, from the Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V to Plaza de Colón, via the Paseo del Prado and Paseo de Recoletos.
- Why
- It marked Spain’s National Day, which commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492.
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No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Madrid prepared to host the National Day parade, with El Confidencial reporting an expectation of more than 100,000 attendees.
The central programme began in Madrid, presided over by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
The programme included a parachute jump with the Spanish flag, followed by aerial and ground parades.
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Start time
- 11:00
- Route
- Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V to Plaza de Colón
- Participants
- 4,380 according to La Vanguardia; about 4,400 according to El Confidencial
- Parachute flag
- 24 square metres and 15 kilograms
- Expected attendees
- More than 100,000, according to El Confidencial
Sources
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