The King and Queen preside over the main Armed Forces Day 2026 ceremony

HM the King greets the authorities

More than 3,700 personnel from the Spanish Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force, the Military Emergencies Unit, the Royal Guard, and the Civil Guard took part in the main Armed Forces Day (DIFAS) 2026 ceremony, held on May 30 in Vigo and presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain and the Princess of Asturias.

Tribute to the fallen

Cheered on by the thousands of people gathered along the official route, the troops felt the support of the public as they marched to applause and cheers during a ceremony marked by adverse weather conditions, which led to the cancellation of the aerial parade and the traditional jump by the Air and Space Force’s Parachute Acrobatics Team. However, these conditions did not prevent the ground parade from taking place, with the participation of more than 140 vehicles, as well as 130 horses and six dogs. Among the most applauded units was the Legion, accompanied by its mascot Baraka and marching at its characteristic pace of 160 steps per minute.

Ground parade

In addition, among the activities organized for DIFAS 2026, a Naval Review and a dynamic display of equipment were held in the Vigo Estuary and on Samil Beach, as well as military band concerts and equipment exhibitions. Likewise, before the start of the main ceremony, Defense Minister Margarita Robles attended a tribute held at the Naval Military Academy in Marín (Pontevedra) in memory of all members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty, where she recalled the military personnel deployed abroad, working for peace in particularly turbulent times.