This year, Barcelona will once again become the center of Spain’s national celebration. On October 12, the city will be filled with flags, music, and a festive atmosphere: in honor of Spain’s National Day, a large-scale parade will take place across the central streets. Organizers from civil society groups have already announced a packed program for the entire day.
From early morning, Plaça de Catalunya will host a fair of civic organizations. Activities will begin at 10:00, and an hour later participants will head to the Monumento a Cristóbal Colón to lay flowers. At 11:30, the main parade will begin—the procession will set off from Provença street, opposite the iconic Casa Milà building, and proceed along Barcelona’s major avenues.
The route will run along Passeig de Gràcia and finish at Plaça de Catalunya around 1 p.m. Here, attendees will hear speeches from representatives of various organizations, culminating in the performance of the national anthem. Organizers emphasize that the event is peaceful and celebratory, and that residents from all over Catalonia will join the parade to mark this important national date together.
Even after the parade ends, the festivities will continue: until 18:00, the streets will host dance and music performances dedicated to Spanish culture. In the evening, at 19:30, a mass in honor of the Virgen del Pilar will be held at the church Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Balmes street, 78), organized by the association Convivencia Cívica Catalana.
On October 11, the Barcelona Catalonia 505 hotel (Muntaner Street, 505) will host the themed event “Celebrando la Hispanidad”, bringing together experts and public figures. The event starts at 17:30, entrance fee is a symbolic 5 euros.
Residents are advised to use the metro and buses to avoid inconvenience due to road closures in the city center. The nearest metro stations are Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia, along with several bus routes.
October 12 is officially recognized as Spanish National Day under Law 18/1987. This date marks the discovery of the Americas and the historical ties between Spain and Latin American countries. In 2025, Barcelona will once again highlight its commitment to shared cultural and linguistic traditions, uniting residents and visitors on the streets in an atmosphere of pride and unity.
