Spring is here and get ready for ANZAC Day 2026!

Since 2018 many New Zealanders and Australians in Spain have come together for ANZAC Remembrance Day. So far we have events confirmed in La Linea, Malaga and Barcelona. Otherwise reach out to us or organise your own event at a local park.

ANZAC Day Event in La Linea / Gibraltar

Date: Saturday 25 April 2pm to 6pm
Where: Pinar del Rey Park Forest & Picnic BBQ Area
Map: Pinar Del Rey 11360 San Roque, Cádiz.
Info: Bring food, drinks and games for the kids
Organiser: Kent
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Pinar del Rey Park Forest & Picnic BBQ Area

ANZAC Day Event in Malaga

Date: Saturday 25 April 6pm to Midnight
Where: Kiwi House of Beer
Map: C. Juan de Padilla, 24, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga
Info: ANZAC Day Cancer Hospice Fundraiser
Organiser: Trish
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ANZAC Day Event in Barcelona

Date: Saturday 25 April 1pm to 6pm
Where: Gran Clariana Park
Map: Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Sant Martí, 08013 Barcelona
Info: Bring food, drinks and games for the kids
Organiser: Tamar or Sian
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ANZAC Day Event in Madrid

Date: Saturday 25 April 2pm to 6pm
Where: TBC
Organiser: Renee
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ANZAC Day Event in Basque Country

Date: Saturday 25 April 2pm to 6pm
Where: TBC
Organiser: Yos or Roger
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ANZAC Day Event in Valencia or Alicante

Date: Saturday 25 April 2pm to 6pm
Where: TBC
Organiser: May or Pam
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Anzac Day in New Zealand: Remembering from Afar as a Kiwi in Spain

For New Zealanders living abroad, certain dates carry more emotional weight than others. One of those is Anzac Day, observed every year on 25 April. Whether you’re newly arrived in Spain or have been here for years, Anzac Day remains a powerful reminder of home, identity, and shared history.

Anzac Day commemorates the service and sacrifice of New Zealanders in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. Its origins trace back to 1915, when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula during the First World War. While the campaign itself was marked by hardship and heavy losses, it became a defining moment in shaping New Zealand’s national identity.

Back home, Anzac Day is deeply ingrained in the culture. It begins at dawn with solemn services held across the country. These gatherings reflect the early morning landing at Gallipoli and include moments of silence, hymns, and the haunting sound of the Last Post. Communities come together to lay wreaths, wear red poppies, and recite the Ode of Remembrance, traditions that foster reflection and collective respect.

But what does Anzac Day look like when you’re living in Spain?

For many Kiwis abroad, the experience is quieter, more personal, yet no less meaningful. While Spain doesn’t observe Anzac Day as a public holiday, there are still ways to honour it. In larger cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, informal gatherings or small commemorative services are sometimes organised by expatriate communities, embassies, or local groups. These events can offer a sense of connection and shared remembrance, even thousands of kilometres from home.

If you’re not near an organised service, creating your own moment of reflection can be just as powerful. Setting an early alarm to observe a personal dawn moment, listening to the Last Post online, or simply taking a few minutes of silence can help maintain that connection to tradition. Some Kiwis also bake Anzac biscuits, a small but meaningful way to honour history and bring a taste of home into the day.

Living in Spain also provides a unique perspective. You’re surrounded by a country with its own deep and complex history of conflict and remembrance. This can make Anzac Day feel even more reflective, as you consider not just New Zealand’s past, but the broader human cost of war.

For many, Anzac Day overseas becomes less about large ceremonies and more about personal meaning. It’s a chance to pause, remember family members who served, and reflect on the values often associated with the ANZAC spirit, courage, resilience, and mateship.

Importantly, staying connected with other Kiwis can enhance the experience.

Whether through social media groups, local meetups, or expat communities, sharing stories and traditions helps keep the spirit of Anzac Day alive. It also reinforces something many New Zealanders discover while living abroad: identity often becomes stronger when you’re away from home.

At Kiwis in Spain, we know that navigating life overseas is about more than logistics, it’s also about maintaining a sense of belonging. Anzac Day is one of those moments that bridges the distance between Spain and New Zealand, reminding us where we come from and what we value.

So this 25 April, wherever you are in Spain, whether by the coast, in a bustling city, or a quiet village, take a moment. Reflect, remember, and honour a day that continues to shape what it means to be a Kiwi, no matter where in the world you are.