Catalonia celebrates this Friday, September 11, its National Day (Diada Nacional), a day that is once again marked by the vindication of Catalan identity and by the differences within the independence movement. The celebration comes at a time of special tension between the sovereignist formations, with the rise of Aliança Catalana reflected in the polls and with an eye on the possible application of amnesty to the leaders of the 'procés' by the Supreme Court.
The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has vindicated the collective nature of the day and has called for it to also be used to reflect on the future of Catalonia. “The Diada is a reason for shared celebration and deserved joy. A great day to feel proud of who we are and where we come from,” he wrote on X. Illa added that, beyond the commemoration, September 11 should serve to debate “what we want to be and where we want Catalonia to advance.”
La Diada és un motiu de celebració compartida i de merescuda alegria. Un gran dia per sentir-nos orgullosos de qui som i d’on venim. Però, sobretot, és un bon dia per compartir què volem ser i cap a on volem que avanci Catalunya.
— Salvador Illa Roca (@salvadorilla) September 11, 2026
Molt bona #Diada2026! pic.twitter.com/3PLZbTCkUF
In the same institutional vein, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has extended his congratulations to the Catalans and has called for a community based on coexistence. “This September 11 we celebrate an open, plural, and diverse Catalonia, which looks to the future with hope and ambition,” he stated on X. Sánchez has also defended that Catalonia must advance “from coexistence, respect, and that which unites us,” before closing his message with a congratulation for the day: “Happy Diada to all Catalans!”
Aquest Onze de Setembre celebrem una Catalunya oberta, plural i diversa, que mira al futur amb esperança i ambició.
Una Catalunya que avança des de la convivència, el respecte i allò que ens uneix.
Bona Diada a tots els catalans i catalanes! pic.twitter.com/aH42xXfEpt
A Diada with tension among separatists
The day comes after the differences between the various sectors of the independence movement became evident yesterday in the Fossar de les Moreres, one of the symbolic spaces of the Diada due to its connection with the defenders of Barcelona during the 1714 siege.
Catalans i catalanes,
— Salvador Illa Roca (@salvadorilla) September 10, 2026
Catalunya ho té tot perquè li vagi bé.
L’empenta, el talent i els valors de la seva gent. Un projecte de país sòlid i cohesionat on ningú és més català que ningú: Catalunya som tots i totes.
Ens hem proposat esdevenir el millor lloc d’Europa per viure,… pic.twitter.com/uPofgKN1i6
The Catalan political scene thus faces a new Diada with the independence movement divided and with special attention to the growth of Aliança Catalana, a party that has gained weight in the polls. The struggle between the different sovereignist forces also moves to the streets on a day that has historically served as one of the main barometers of the independence mobilization.
In addition, the autumn will be conditioned by the judicial situation of the leaders of the 'procés' and by the possibility that the Supreme Court applies the amnesty law to some of them.
Offerings and events throughout the day
The official events will begin early in the morning with the traditional floral offerings at the monument to Rafael Casanova, in Barcelona. The Government headed by Illa will participate in the ceremony along with representatives of the Parliament, the Barcelona City Council and different political parties, including PSC, Junts, ERC and Comuns, as well as entities such as the ANC and Òmnium Cultural.
For their part, the CUP and its youth wings will hold their traditional tribute to Gustau Muñoz, a militant of the youth wings of the Communist Party of Spain (international) who died at 16 from shots fired by an plainclothes agent during a police charge in a Diada demonstration in 1978.
The agenda will continue at noon with the political act of Òmnium Cultural, scheduled at the Arc de Triomf, while ERC, with Oriol Junqueras at the helm, will hold its rally in the afternoon.
The independence mobilization will have one of its main points of attention in the demonstration called by the ANC under the slogan "Hi soc. Hi som. Independència". The protest will have a decentralized format and will take place simultaneously in Barcelona, Girona and Amposta. In Barcelona, two columns will cross the city until converging in Plaça de Catalunya.
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