Mishap at Vigo Parade: Flag Drops During Ceremony Attended by King. The military parade in Vigo took place with the participation of the King and Princess, but without an air show. During the flag-raising ceremony, a mishap occurred when the flag fell. More than 3,700 military personnel took part in the event.
The military parade in honor of Armed Forces Day in 2026 in Vigo was marked by two incidents: the cancellation of the air show due to poor visibility and an emergency situation during the raising of the national flag. During the official flag-raising ceremony, in front of thousands of spectators, the rope snapped and the flag fell to the ground. As a result, during the parade, the main banner became that of the Royal Guard — the oldest one presented at the event.
The parade in central Vigo attracted thousands of residents and guests from the region. For the first time, Princess Leonor attended the event wearing the dress uniform of a fourth-year 'alférez' of the Air and Space Forces. King Felipe VI led the ceremony in the uniform of a general of the Army. Alongside them in the grandstand were Vigo's mayor Abel Caballero, the Queen, the Minister of Defense, and the head of Galicia.
Representatives of all key units took part in the parade: the Royal Guard, the Army, the Air and Space Forces, the Navy, the Civil Guard, and the Military Rescue Service. According to official data, a total of 3,746 people marched, of whom 344 were women. The motorized section included 109 cars and 32 motorcycles, and for the first time, two 8x8 Dragón armored vehicles were showcased.
Among the honored guests were the President of the Galician Parliament Miguel Ángel Santalices, Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the head of the autonomous government Alfonso Rueda. Despite the cancellation of the air show, spectators actively supported the parade participants. As russpain.com notes, in recent years, interest in military events in Galicia has remained consistently high, as evidenced by the region’s cultural projects, such as a photo project about Entroido traditions in Ourense.
The parade in Vigo became a significant event for the region. The city rarely hosts such large-scale military events, and the participation of two members of the royal family heightened the attention given to the occasion. For reference: Armed Forces Day in Spain is celebrated annually at the end of May, and every year a new location is chosen for the festivities. In 2026, Vigo was selected, which helped draw attention to the country’s northwestern regions and highlight their role in national life.
