The Day of Madrid commemorates the 1808 uprising, a pivotal moment when ordinary citizens resisted Napoleon's occupation. Though suppressed, it became a lasting symbol of freedom and regional pride, and since 1983 it has also represented the autonomy of Madrid within Spain.

When is the Day of Madrid?

The Day of Madrid is celebrated every year on May 2.

The following is the list of the Day of Madrid from 2020 to 2049.

The History of the Day of Madrid?

On May 2, 1808, the people of Madrid rose up against Napoleon's French troops, who had occupied Spain after forcing King Charles IV and Ferdinand VII to abdicate. The immediate cause was the attempt by the French to transfer the remaining members of the Spanish royal family out of Madrid.

Crowds gathered at the Royal Palace, and when violence broke out, citizens armed themselves with whatever weapons they could find such as tones and even household tools to resist the French.

Fighting spread across the city, with civilians, artisans and even women joining the resistance.

The French brutally repressed the uprising, executing hundreds of Madrileños by firing squad the next day (famously depicted in Francisco de Goya's painting The Third of May 1808).

Though the revolt failed militarily, it became a symbol of national resistance against foreign occupation. The events of May 2 sparked the Spanish War of Independence (1808–1814), during which Spain, with British and Portuguese support, eventually expelled French forces.

Throughout the 19th century, the heroes of May 2 were remembered through monuments, processions, and public ceremonies.

With the creation of Spain's autonomous communities in 1983, the Community of Madrid chose May 2 as its official holiday. It honors both the historic uprising and the modern identity of Madrid as an autonomous region within Spain.