Flag days in Spain 2026 and 2027
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Spanish original. Where the two versions differ, the Spanish text is the original.
Spain has no official list of flag days like the Nordic countries. Under article 3 of Law 39/1981, the flag of Spain flies every day outside the buildings of the central, regional, provincial or island and municipal administrations. What the law does set are the national holidays, with 12 October as the National Day of Spain, and Armed Forces Day, on which the Ministry of Defence dresses its buildings and ships with flags. These are the dates for 2026 and 2027, with the weekday, the type of day and the rule that sets it.
National holidays and flag dates by year
The table lists the national holidays that the autonomous communities cannot replace, under article 45.1, points a, b and c, of Royal Decree 2001/1983, and Armed Forces Day. Three dates change every year: Good Friday (3 April 2026, 26 March 2027) and Armed Forces Day, on the Saturday on or nearest to 30 May (30 May 2026, 29 May 2027).
The National Day on 12 October
Law 18/1987 declares 12 October the National Day of Spain for all purposes. Under Royal Decree 862/1997, military personnel wear full dress that day, the buildings and ships of the Ministry of Defence are dressed with the national flag, and a military parade is held with a solemn tribute to the flag of Spain.
Armed Forces Day
Royal Decree 530/1987 sets Armed Forces Day on the Saturday on or nearest to 30 May, the feast of Saint Ferdinand. Under its article 3, military personnel wear full dress and, within the Ministry of Defence, buildings and ships are dressed overall with flags. Under its article 2, the Minister of Defence may, exceptionally, authorise the celebration on another day close to that date.
National and regional holidays
Article 37.2 of the Workers’ Statute limits public holidays to fourteen a year, two of them local, and guarantees Christmas, New Year’s Day, 1 May and 12 October as national holidays. Royal Decree 2001/1983 completes the list. The autonomous communities may replace 6 January, Holy Thursday and 19 March or 25 July with their own holidays, and when a national holiday falls on a Sunday the day off moves to the Monday, unless the community replaces it with another holiday. That is why each community’s exact calendar is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) every year; the one for 2026 appeared in October 2025.
Each community also celebrates its own day, such as 28 February in Andalusia or 11 September in Catalonia, with its flag next to that of Spain. The guide to flags on holidays lists those dates.
Days of mourning
Besides these dates, the Government, the autonomous communities and the municipalities can declare official mourning, with the flag at half-mast on public buildings. Those days are not known in advance. The guide to half-mast covers this.
Who raises the flag?
The obligation in Law 39/1981 applies to public buildings. In military units, under article 3 of the Regulation on Military Honours, the flag is raised at eight in the morning and lowered at sunset. Private individuals, owners’ associations and businesses may raise or hang the flag freely. More in the guide to flag rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does Spain have flag days?
Not in the sense of an official list of dates on which the flag is raised. Under article 3 of Law 39/1981, the flag of Spain flies every day outside public buildings. What the law does set are the national holidays, with 12 October as the National Day of Spain, and Armed Forces Day.
When is the National Day of Spain?
On 12 October. Law 18/1987 declares that day the National Day of Spain for all purposes. Under Royal Decree 862/1997, the buildings and ships of the Ministry of Defence are dressed with flags, and a military parade is held with a tribute to the flag.
When is Armed Forces Day?
On the Saturday on or nearest to 30 May, the feast of Saint Ferdinand, under article 1 of Royal Decree 530/1987. In 2026 it is 30 May and in 2027 29 May. The Minister of Defence may, exceptionally, authorise the celebration on another day close to that date.
Which national holidays can the autonomous communities not replace?
Under article 45.1 of Royal Decree 2001/1983, those in points a, b and c: 12 October and 6 December, which are civic holidays; New Year’s Day, 1 May and 25 December; and 15 August, 1 November, 8 December and Good Friday.
Do private households have to fly the flag on national holidays?
No. Law 39/1981 regulates the flag on public buildings. A private individual may hang it whenever they wish, on holidays or on any other day, as long as they do not add the symbols of parties, trade unions, associations or private entities to it.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Spanish:
- Ley 39/1981, de 28 de octubre, por la que se regula el uso de la bandera de España y el de otras banderas y enseñas – Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Ley 18/1987, de 7 de octubre, que establece el día de la Fiesta Nacional de España en el 12 de octubre – Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Real Decreto 862/1997, de 6 de junio, por el que se regulan los actos conmemorativos del Día de la Fiesta Nacional de España, en el ámbito del Ministerio de Defensa – Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Real Decreto 530/1987, de 10 de abril, por el que se regula la celebración anual del Día de las Fuerzas Armadas – Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Real Decreto 2001/1983, de 28 de julio, sobre regulación de la jornada de trabajo, jornadas especiales y descansos (artículo 45) – Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Resolución de 17 de octubre de 2025, de la Dirección General de Trabajo, por la que se publica la relación de fiestas laborales para el año 2026 – Boletín Oficial del Estado
Related guides
- Flag rulesThe flag rules in Spain: where the flag flies under Law 39/1981, regional and municipal flags, the place of honour, prohibited symbols and insults to the flag.
- Flags on holidaysThe flag on public holidays in Spain: 12 October, 6 December, the days of the autonomous communities with their flags and the 2026 holiday calendar.
- Half-mastWhen the flag flies at half-mast in Spain: official mourning by royal decree, regional and municipal mourning, military rules and the black ribbon.
- Flag protocolThe order of flags in Spain under Law 39/1981: the place of honour with odd and even numbers of flags, regional and municipal flags, indoors and at events.