Ceuta Day
When is it celebrated
Ceuta Day is celebrated on 2 September, fixed date of the official commemoration of the autonomous city. The institutional event takes place that day, although the cultural, sports and recreational programming can begin at the end of August and continue during the first days of September.
Is it a holiday or a working day?
It is a labour festival typical of the Autonomous City of Ceuta. The official list for 2026 includes Wednesday, 2 September, as an autonomous community holiday in Ceuta; Its employment effect is limited to this territory and must be verified in the calendar published for each year.
Origin and geographical link
The celebration belongs to Ceuta and was established by agreement of the Plenary Assembly of 1 October 1997. The date remembers 2 September 1415, when Juan I of Portugal appointed Pedro de Meneses as governor, an episode associated with the beginning of a new stage in Ceuta's history and with local symbols such as the shield and the áleo or baton of command.
Regular events
The core of the day is the institutional event chaired by the City, with an official speech, presentation of the Medal of Autonomy or other distinctions and performance of the anthems. The complementary programme varies and usually includes music, theater, literature, sports, sightseeing, hiking, gastronomy and family activities.
Usual duration of events
The solemn event takes place on the afternoon or evening of 2 September and lasts a few hours, but the public celebration can span several days. The City has organised weekend editions and broader programmes, such as the one between 28 August and 7 September; There is no identical duration every year.
Traditions and history
Since its establishment in 1997, the commemoration articulates historical memory and civic recognition. The institutional decoration of the Plaza de África and the Autonomous Palace, the delivery of distinctions to people and entities linked to Ceuta, the presidential speech and the musical closing with the anthems are consolidated features, although the precise development changes each edition.
Where is it celebrated
The festival is celebrated throughout Ceuta. The Revellín Auditorium Theater frequently hosts the institutional event, while the Plaza de África, the Royal Walls, sports spaces, cultural centres, natural routes and other urban enclaves serve as the setting for the activities of the annual programme.
Who participates
The Autonomous City organises the commemoration through the Presidency and its ministries, together with collaborating cultural, sports and social entities. Authorities, award winners, musicians and choral groups, associations and organizing staff participate; Citizens and those who visit Ceuta constitute the public of the open events.