The keys to the 2026 Armed Forces Day in Vigo: parade, novelties, and the presence of Princess Leonor

This Saturday, May 24, Vigo hosted the central celebration of the Day of the Armed Forces (DIFAS 2026), with the attendance of Kings Felipe and Letizia, accompanied for the first time by Princess Leonor, in an event that marks a key moment in the training of the future supreme commander of the Armed Forces. The ceremony took place on Avenida de Samil, facing the sea.

Arrival and protocol

The royal entourage arrived escorted by the Royal Guard on horseback, while the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, the Chief of Defense Staff (JEMAD), Admiral Teodoro López Calderón, the President of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, and the Mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, received the members of the royal family on the tribune. After the protocol greetings, the parade began with the 3,746 participating personnel.

Bad weather and programming adjustments

Bad weather forced the cancellation of the paratrooper jump by the Air and Space Army's Parachuting Acrobatic Patrol (PAPEA) and the acrobatic performance of the Mirlo Formation, which was going to paint the skies with the colors of the national flag. In total, the participation of 30 fighter jets, 16 transport aircraft, and 25 helicopters was expected, but the weather partially altered these exhibitions.

Novelties in the ground parade

The route, of 1,165 meters along Avenida de Samil from Avenida de la Constitución to the intersection with Rúa do Río, included 109 vehicles from different military corps, including Leopard and Pizarro battle tanks, as well as the 8x8 Dragón armored vehicle, which made its debut in this parade. In addition, a robot dog and the Legion's mascot, a four-year-old male ram named Baraka, who had previously participated in the October 12 parade in Madrid, were incorporated.

The parade featured 34 motorcycles, 130 horses, and six dogs, totaling 3,746 personnel from the Royal Guard, Army, Navy, Air and Space Force, Civil Guard, and Military Emergencies Unit (UME).

Princess Leonor, the protagonist

The Princess of Asturias took her place next to her parents on the tribune, witnessing firsthand the military deployment, in a key formative moment as the future supreme commander of the Armed Forces.

The event included the traditional offering and greeting to the authorities, in a tribute that dates back to 1978 to promote the knowledge and integration of the Armies in society. The celebration takes place every year in a different city and coincides with the feast of San Fernando, patron saint of the Armed Forces.

Recognition from Sánchez

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, through his profile on X, conveyed his recognition to the Armed Forces:“You represent the best of public service: work, discipline, dedication, and solidarity”, highlighting the importance of their work in Spanish society.