Catalan independence Diada draws 45,000, far below past highs

The main Catalan independence rally on the Diada, Catalonia's national day, drew 45,000 participants in Barcelona, according to the Guardia Urbana Source: infobae. This marks a modest increase from the 28,000 recorded in 2025, which was a historic low, but remains a fraction of the 1.8 million who marched at the movement's peak in 2014 Source: abces. The turnout underscores the continued decline of mass mobilization that characterized the 'procés' era.

A movement divided

The rally was overshadowed by internal divisions, particularly the rise of the far-right separatist party Aliança Catalana. The party's leader, Sílvia Orriols, participated in the march, while other separatist groups and mainstream parties called for a 'cordon sanitaire' against her Source: elconfidencial. The day before the Diada, clashes between left-wing separatists and Aliança supporters at the Fossar de les Moreres left three people detained Source: euronewses. The polarization was summed up by Societat Civil Catalana as 'separatistas catalanes contra separatistas catalanes' Source: euronewses.

Key points

• Attendance: 45,000 in Barcelona, with additional marches in Girona and Amposta Source: infobae. Organizers claimed a 'change of trend' upwards, but the figure is still below the 60,000 of 2024 Source: infobae.
• Symbolic acts: Two hooded individuals burned a Spanish flag on stage after the speeches, an act previously seen only at left-wing separatist marches Source: abces, elespanol.
• Political context: The Diada took place as Catalans rank housing, immigration, and security as their top concerns, pushing independence down the agenda Source: abces. The amnesty law for 2017 referendum leaders remains incomplete Source: euronewses.