Published on
This year's military parade to mark Spain's national day takes place against an unusual political backdrop.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced last week that an early general election would take place on 29 November and the 2026 parade is being staged with parliament dissolved and the country on the verge of an election campaign.
As is customary, the ceremony is presided over by the Spanish monarchs, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, together with their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
The route starts next to the Botanical Garden in Madrid, continues along the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos and ends at Plaza de Colón.
More than 4,300 military personnel, 82 aircraft, 183 vehicles and 286 horses will take part.
Joining them are members of Spain's security forces and police and other public bodies, as well as several canine units.
The Dragón, anti-drone systems and a notable absence
The main innovation this year is the debut of three Dragón 8x8 armoured vehicles from the Army, two infantry models and one combat engineer variant, assigned to the King Alfonso XIII 2nd Brigade of the Legion.
Two Marine Corps vehicles equipped with the Aracne anti-drone system and two Asturcón drones from the UME also make their debut, designed for surveillance and tackling forest fires.
They highlight the growing importance of defence against drones, something the war in Ukraine is clearly underlining.
By contrast, no units from Ceuta will parade this year, as the Defence Ministry is keeping them deployed in the enclave because of tensions caused by the illegal entry of thousands of migrants from Morocco in July.
Heroes of the air
The aerial display is the one that draws the most eyes year after year. It will bring together 82 aircraft in 18 formations, led by two F/A-18s from Wing 15, and will include a flypast by the Airbus A330 MRTT escorted by fighter jets, like those that safeguard security beyond our borders, reflecting Spain's commitment to NATO.
Before that, paratroopers will descend along the route: Staff Sergeant Pablo García Matanza will be the lead jumper and Corporal First Class José Antonio Lago will carry the national flag, measuring 24 square metres.
The Spanish Legion is another of the public's favourite moments. This elite force marches at a much faster pace than the rest, around 160 steps per minute compared with 90 for the Regulares units, making it one of the most applauded.
As tradition dictates, the Patrulla Águila will paint the colours of the national flag across the sky, bringing the parade to a close.