Spanish Chief of Defence (CHOD) Presents Programme for Armed Forces Day 2025

• Admiral Teodoro López Calderón was joined by the Mayors of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, today presented the official programme for Armed Forces Day 2025 (DIFAS 25), which will take place from 3 to 8 June in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The announcement was made during two events held in the host cities for this year’s central celebrations. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Admiral López Calderón was accompanied by the city’s Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez Esparza, and later in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria by Mayor Carolina Darias.

The Admiral expressed his appreciation for the warm reception offered by both cities and invited members of the public to participate in the celebrations. ‘Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife provide an outstanding setting for commemorating this important occasion. They offer numerous opportunities to showcase who we are and what we do. Added to this is the longstanding, close, and heartfelt relationship between Canarian society and the Armed Forces, whose presence is highly valued throughout the islands’.

The Spanish CHOD also noted: ‘The purpose of Armed Forces Day is to raise public awareness of the work carried out by military personnel, both at home and overseas – our ongoing mission to safeguard national territory and promote peace and freedom around the world’.

‘Armed Forces Day is a day of unity and dialogue between civilians and military personnel – an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding. It is, above all, a chance to demonstrate that the responsibility for defence lies with all of us, and this has never been more important than it is today’, he emphasised. 

He concluded his remarks by offering a special tribute to the thousands of Spanish service personnel deployed abroad who will also mark Armed Forces Day: ‘Nearly 4,000 personnel are currently stationed in various parts of the world, taking part in missions under the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, or on national operations – all contributing to international peace and stability’.

Los actos conmemorativos del Día de las Fuerzas Armadas comenzarán el martes, 3 de junio, y concluirán el domingo, 8 de junio.

Commemorations will begin on Tuesday 3 June and conclude on Sunday 8 June.

The main event, which will be presided over by Their Royal Majesties, will take place on Saturday 7 June at 11:30 AM in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and will include the following:

• Parachute jump by the Air and Space Force’s Parachute Display Team (PAPEA)
• Hoisting of and Tribute to the National Flag
• Homage to those who gave their lives for Spain
• Aerial parade
• Ground parade
• Lowering of the National Flag

In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, from 3 to 8 June, the following activities are also scheduled:

• A static display and navy presence along the ‘Avenida Marítima’
• A dynamic demonstration on Wednesday 4 June at the port esplanade
• A military music concert on Thursday 5 June in ‘Plaza de España’

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, there will be:

• A static display and navy presence from 3 to 8 June at the ‘Santa Catalina’ Arsenal and Dock
• A navy review on Friday 6 June at 3:30 PM in ‘San Telmo’ Park
• A dynamic demonstration at 4:30 PM on ‘Las Alcaravaneras’ Beach, with participation from the Army, Navy, Air and Space Force, and Guardia Civil 

In addition to the main events in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, numerous activities will be held across Spain, and even in locations abroad where Spanish Armed Forces personnel are currently deployed.

Full information about Armed Forces Day 2025 (DIFAS25) is available here.