Mercadona will keep supermarkets closed across Spain on October 12 for Día de la Hispanidad and the Pilar holiday. The two-day pause, including Sunday, underscores the chain’s hardline stance on holiday closures.
Shoppers found locked doors at Mercadona on Monday, October 12, as Día de la Hispanidad and the Pilar holiday brought the chain’s operations to a standstill. The closure stretched across Spain, with Sunday, October 11, already marked as a non-trading day for the retailer.
Mercadona’s approach is nothing new. Under Juan Roig, the company has stuck to a strict policy: stores stay closed on Sundays and public holidays. Only a handful of tourist-heavy areas see exceptions during the summer. While rivals often tweak hours to cash in on holiday crowds, Mercadona holds the line. Independent outlets including 20minutos and El Independiente confirmed the October 12, 2026, shutdown as part of a long-standing rulebook. Nearly every store followed suit, though rare exceptions can pop up. Customers have to check the official Mercadona locator for any outliers.
On October 12, 2026, Mercadona's online delivery service was also suspended nationwide, not just physical stores.
In the Valencian Community, Mercadona had already pulled down the shutters on Friday, October 9, for the 9 d'Octubre regional holiday. The next shake-up to opening hours lands in December, since November 1—Día de Todos los Santos—falls on a Sunday, when stores are closed anyway. Infobae reported that the Día de la Hispanidad closure hit almost the entire Mercadona network, with the usual warning: some local exceptions may exist, so checking each store’s status remains key.
For regulars, this double holiday break means planning ahead or risking empty cupboards. The company’s rigid closure policy often catches last-minute shoppers off guard, especially those used to squeezing in a weekend run. Stores were set to reopen on Tuesday, October 13, with standard hours from 09:00 to 21:30, though El Periódico noted that final times depend on the specific branch.
In 2026, October 12 was a nationwide public holiday across all Spanish autonomous communities, including Ceuta and Melilla, resulting in a rare three-day weekend for many workers.
Mercadona’s refusal to budge on holiday closures stands out in a retail landscape where many chase every possible sale. The company’s stance puts consistency and staff rest ahead of short-term gains. For anyone heading out to shop, the message is blunt: Spain’s biggest supermarket chain won’t bend its rules for convenience.
