National Day
PROUD TO BE FREE
National Day celebrates everything that makes Gibraltar great
EVERY year on September 10, the Rock of Gibraltar comes alive with a vibrant celebration – National Day.
It goes beyond just fun and festivities - although there are plenty of those. National Day commemorates several historic moments for Gibraltar, most importantly the 1967 referendum where residents overwhelmingly voted to remain British.
This day also celebrates self-determination, with Gibraltar boasting its own parliament and a strong sense of identity.
Festivities kick off with a children’s fancy dress competition, transforming Main Street into a colourful parade. Throughout the day, John Mackintosh Square plays host to a lively street party, while private bars and restaurants offer special deals and entertainment.
CELEBRATING THE ROCK
The heart of the celebration lies in the Freedom of the City ceremony. The Mayor reads the National Day Declaration, followed by live music, aerial displays, and family activities.
In the lead-up to the big day, residents are encouraged to sign the National Day Banner, a powerful symbol of unity displayed on the main stage. Richard Buttigieg of the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group (SDGG) emphasizes the importance of this gesture:
“National Day is a political rally reminding everyone of Gibraltar’s right to self-determination. It’s a day to show a united front against those who may undermine our right to
LANDLORD RELIEF IN GIBRALTAR
choose our own destiny.”
National Day celebrations have evolved into a week-long affair. From art competitions and window displays to concerts and performances, there’s something for everyone. The aim is to create a sense of community pride and belonging. This tiny limestone rock, just 6.8 square kilometres, is home to over 32,000 proud Gibraltarians. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea has made it a coveted territory throughout history. Gibraltar boasts a fascinating history, with evidence of Neanderthal habitation dating back thousands of years. It has been
shaped by various cultures, from the Romans who called it Mons Calpe to the Moors who gave it its current name. Today, Gibraltar is a vibrant mix of British and Mediterranean influences, with residents speaking a blend of Spanish, English, and Llanito, a local dialect. Gibraltar continues to evolve. Recently recognised as a city by the UK, it boasts a thriving economy built on tourism, online gambling, financial services, and maritime industries. National Day serves as a reminder of Gibraltar’s unique identity and its unwavering commitment to self-determination.
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Best day of the year
SUNDAY will see a boat procession off Gibraltar as part of the National Day celebrations.
Starting at 7.30 pm. It will begin with a blessing of the sea and vessels, followed by a procession of participating boats towards the South Mole for the laying of flowers as an Act of Remembrance for all those who have lost their lives at sea.
The organisers – including the Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, Gibraltar Cultural Services, and a dedicated team – invite all boat owners in Gibraltar to participate, regardless of religious affiliation. Interested participants can register
From fancy dress to fireworks, music to politics, there is something for everyone in the National Day line-up
NATIONAL Day will be celebrated with a host of exciting events this Tuesday, September 10. Organised by Gibraltar Group (SDGG) and Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), the festivities will centre around Casemates Square, John Mackintosh Square and Governor’s Parade. The day will begin at 9.30am with live music throughout Main Street.
It will be swiftly followed by a Children’s Fancy Dress Competition at Casemates Square and live performances.
At 12.25pm, a political rally will take place with representatives from various political parties.
Then at 1.30pm, local DJs No Limits Entertainment will perform while ‘fun day attractions’ kick off in John Mackintosh square.
The kid friendly activities will run from 1.30pm to 7pm
Meanwhile in Victoria Stadium, Nobiggie Festival will take place from 2pm to 10pm
The dance and electronic music festival will see international acts such as East End Dubs, Dimmish and Robbie Doherty
From 2.30pm to 7.30 pm, The Chipis & Bob and the Boys will perform at Governor’s Parade.
Sea procession
in two ways: Contact Steven Segui directly at 58286000 or via email steven.segui@giboxy.gi Alternatively, arrive at the muster point on the day itself. The muster time is 7pm at sea, outside Mid Harbours Marina, with the procession starting at 7.30pm sharp.
Participants are encouraged to proudly fly their Gibraltar flags and bring only natural flowers to honor the occasion.
They will be followed by a rock concert at Casemate’s Square including Dead City Radio Cedar and Gabriel Moreno
Finally, the festivities will end with a fireworks display over Detached Mole at 10pm
THE NEVERENDING PARTY
IN the run up to National Day, there are loads of events to get involved in. Today, September 4, you could become a ‘model for the day’ at the Queensway Quay Fashion Show. It is in a good cause too, raising funds for Bosom Buddies Cancer Trust. The event starts at 8.30pm If that isn’t your thing, why not check out the ‘Our Gibraltar’ Exhibition at the Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery until September 6. It is open between 10am and 4pm, with free entrance.
Music lovers have a treat in store this weekend, with The Weekender being held at The Arena, O’Reilly’s in Ocean Village on Friday and Saturday. The rock concert will feature UK and local talent, including Another Sky, The Collide, The Heavy North, Guy Valarino & The Gentlemen, Thrifty Malone, and what’s more it is free entrance.
Meanwhile, Rock El Kasbah will be held at Castle Steps from 4pm onwards on Saturday.
The street party will feature Heritage, Adrian Pisarello & Friends, GAMPA’s La Maleta, Julian Felice, Broken Arrows and more, and is again free. Sunday sees the Grassroots Festival in Casemates Square from 6pm onwards. The youth rock concert features Nickolai Celecia, Phthalo Tides, Burning Loud, Nate, Nest Before End and MAG Youth, and it too is free.
Coinciding with the Paralympics in Paris will be Gibraltar’s own Para Sports Day on Saturday.
The venue will be the Tercentenary Sports Hall, between 9.30am and 1.30pm
Finally, Monday will see the National Day Mass at The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe church at 7.30pm
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G ibraltar National Day
THE GATEWAY TO EUROPE
Strategic position has shaped Gibraltar’s place in the world
By Dilip Kuner
GIBRALTAR has played a key role in Mediterranean history for over two millennia.
Its geographical significance as the gateway between Europe and Africa and the Atlantic and Mediterranean, has made the Rock a highly prized piece of real estate.
Gibraltar's recorded history begins in the ancient world, though evidence shows human presence as early as the Neanderthals, who inhabited the region around 30,000 years ago.
In Greek mythology, Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules, a pair of promontories flanking the entrance to the Mediterranean. This mythic association lent the region both symbolic and navigational importance.
During the era of Phoenician exploration (c.1200 BC), Gibraltar became a landmark for traders navigating the seas between the Levant, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula.
The Carthaginians and later the Romans also recognised its signifi cance.
The latter incorporat ed Gibraltar into their province of Hispania and while they did not establish a permanent settlement, its coastal proximity ensured it remained a valuable waypoint for naval ac tivities.
The Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century marked
A
a new phase in Gibraltar's history. In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad (pictured above), a Berber general leading the Umayyad forces from North Africa, landed at Gibraltar during the initial wave of Islamic expansion into Europe.
The Rock of Gibraltar, known as Jabal Tariq (meaning Mount of Tariq) in Arabic, was named after him. This event was the precursor to the Muslim conquest of Spain, which would lead to centuries of Islamic rule over large parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
Under Islamic control, Gibraltar saw the construction of fortifications and settlements, serving as a military outpost and a base for raids into Christian territories.
ROCK
FIRST
The region’s changing rulers, including the Umayyads, Almoravids, and Almohads, all understood Gibraltar's strategic value, particularly as a naval stronghold guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean.
As Christian forces from northern Spain gradually reconquered the peninsula during the Reconquista, Gibraltar remained under Muslim control until 1462.
That year, it was captured by the
Meet Calpeia - Gibraltar’s earliest modern human
THIS is the face of Calpeia, the first known human resident of Gibraltar. In 1996, archaeologists from the Gibraltar National Museum uncovered a significant find during an excavation near Europa Point in Gibraltarremains of a human burial site in a cave.
It wasn't until 23 years later, thanks to advances in technology and collaboration between the Gibraltar National Museum, the Conservator Manuel Jaén, and Harvard Medical School, that a groundbreaking forensic reconstruction was made.
Using her skull as the foundation, scientists were able to determine that she was petite, with a small and delicate skull.
Calpeia likely had dark eyes, dark hair, and light skin, and was estimated to be between 30 and 40 years old at the time of her death.
She lived around 5,400 BC during the Neolithic period, a time when humans were transitioning from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities.
DNA extracted from her remains revealed her genetic ancestry, which indicates a story of migration and intermingling of cultures long before recorded history.
Some 90% of her genetic makeup originated from Anatolia, modern-day Turkey, and 10% from local Mesolithic hunter-gatherer populations. This suggests that her ancestors traveled more than 3,700 kilometres to Gibraltar, mixing with the local population and establishing communities here.
Kingdom of Castile, led by the Duke of Medina Sidonia. After this victory, Gibraltar became part of Castile and would play a role in Spain’s defence against external threats.
Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, Gibraltar was transformed into a fortified city to guard against raids from North African corsairs and protect Spain’s interests in the Mediterranean. However, Spain’s internal turmoil, coupled with its maritime conflicts with powers like England and the Dutch Republic, meant Gibraltar was frequently threatened by foreign invasion.
Bombardment
Gibraltar’s modern history was decisively shaped by the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), a conflict in which several European powers sought to influence the Spanish throne.
In 1704, an Anglo-Dutch fleet, fighting on behalf of the Austrian Habsburg claimant to the throne, captured Gibraltar from Spain. Though the town’s population initially resisted, the garrison surrendered after several days of bombardment.
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht formally ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain, bringing an end to Spain’s attempts to reclaim it.
Under the treaty’s terms, Gibraltar was to remain British ‘in perpetuity’ unless it was willingly ceded by Britain, a clause that remains a point of contention in Spanish-British relations to this day. The British occupation of Gibraltar transformed the Rock into one of the most heavily fortified and strategic outposts in Europe.
Following the Treaty of Utrecht, Britain worked to strengthen its hold over Gibraltar. However, Spain, unwilling to relinquish control, launched several unsuccessful attempts to retake the territory.
The most significant of these efforts was the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–1783), when Spanish and French forces sought to reclaim the territory during the American War of Independence. Despite the prolonged siege, British forces, led by General George Augustus Eliott, successfully defended the Rock, cementing British control.
Gibraltar’s role as a British naval base grew in importance during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), as
STRATEGIC: Gibraltar guards the passage from Africa to Europe and Atlantic to
the Royal Navy used it to monitor French and Spanish fleets. The strategic position of Gibraltar ensured that it remained a focal point of British imperial defense policy throughout the 19th century. Gibraltar’s military significance reached its zenith during the 20th century, particularly in the two World Wars. In World War I, the British used
Gibraltar to safeguard Allied shipping routes, but its strategic importance came into sharper focus during World War II.
Gibraltar was key in controlling naval access to the Mediterranean and served as a staging point for the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942 (Operation Torch). Fascist Spain, under Francisco Franco, remained neutral during the war but maintained a close watch on Gibraltar. After World War II, tensions between Spain and Britain over Gibraltar escalated.
The history of Gibraltar is one of conflict, and cultural blending
In 1967, a refer-
endum was held in which the Gibraltarian people overwhelmingly chose to remain under British sovereignty rather than be transferred to Spanish rule.
In the decades following the referendum, Spain has continued to press for sovereignty, occasionally leading to diplomatic rows with Britain. One of the most contentious mo-
ments came in 1969 when Franco closed the border with Gibraltar, effectively isolating the territory. The border remained shut until 1985, a decade after Franco’s death, marking a significant thaw in relations. In 2006, a tripartite forum between Gibraltar, Spain, and Britain was established to discuss mutual interests, reflecting an effort to resolve disputes through diplomacy. However, the 2016 Brexit referendum reignited debate over Gibraltar's future.
The territory, which overwhelmingly voted to remain in the European Union, now faces an uncertain future outside the EU while still navigating its relationship with both Britain and Spain.
The history of Gibraltar is one of conflict, strategic significance, and cultural blending. From its ancient roots as a maritime landmark to its modern role as a British Overseas Territory, the Rock of Gibraltar has been shaped by its geography and the competing interests of empires.
While its political future remains a topic of debate, Gibraltar’s identity as a unique cultural and strategic outpost at the crossroads of continents is firmly established in the annals of history.
CLOSED: Families at the border gate waiting to see frienda and relatives
DEMOS: During the 1967 referendum
UNDER FIRE: A depiction of the Great Siege of Gibraltar
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Just say no
How did we get here? When the Gibraltarians said no to sharing sovereignty with Spain in the most unanimous vote in history
THE tortured post-Brexit negotiations to cement the status of Gibraltar within the Schengen zone have only come about because the people said no.
But not just to Brexit itself – they said no when it appeared the British government was about to give away their sovereignty to Spain during a series of secret meetings in the 1990s.
They let their feelings be known with one of the largest protests per head of population in history.
And then they reaffirmed their ‘non’ with one of the most unanimous votes in the history of free and fair referendums.
The present talks, which must bear fruit before the introduction of a hard border with Spain in November, are the progenitor of this vote.
They are the better looking, genetically superior offspring of the talks that mobilised the people of Gibraltar to say no.
Talks designed to ‘normalise relations’ and ‘settle the issue’ of Gibraltar’s long-disputed sovereignty. They culminated in the ‘Joint Declaration on Gibraltar’, signed by Tony Blair’s Labour government in 1999.
By Walter Finch
It established a framework for discussions on issues like cross-border cooperation and, crucially, the much-loathed concept of co-sovereignty of the peninsula.
It would create a situation where both Spain and the UK would share control over Gibraltar in a deal known as the Brussels Agreement.
The Rock has been a point of contention between Britain and Spain for centuries since it was captured by an Anglo-Dutch fleet in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession.
The war’s settlement saw Gibraltar ceded to Great Britain in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
Fast forward 320 yearsplus one great siege, one blockade and various political efforts later - and Spain is still trying to regain sovereignty of the Rock.
The proposals for a sovereignty-sharing arrangement at the turn of the millennium alarmed the
Gibraltarians so much that unprecedented protests were triggered in 2002.
“It felt like a betrayal at the time because it was out of the blue,” Dr Jennifer Ballantine Perera, historian and Director of the Gibraltar Garrison Library, told the Olive Press.
“At its heart lay the question of our identity, both national and cultural. Because we are British Gibraltarians.
“And it is about our way of life. The attempt to thrust a change of status over Gibraltar would’ve impacted all areas of our lives.
“The fear of an erosion of identity was also key because if we’re not British Gibraltarians, then what are we? It runs deep.”
An estimated 20,000 people took to the streets in a wave of British and Gibraltarian flags on March 18.
The figure represented approximately two-thirds of the entire population – an extraordinarily high proportion that has perhaps never been equalled.
The then-Chief Minister, Sir Peter Caru-
FACE OFF: Then Spanish Affairs Minister Ana Palacios and then Chief Minister Sir Peter Caruana
NO CONCESSION:
99% voted no to shared sovereignty
ana, slammed the notion that a decision on the Rock’s sovereignty could be made without consulting the Gibraltarians directly.
He then preempted the talks by calling a referendum on the matter in November 2002.
The question was simple: “Do you approve of the proposals for shared sovereignty over Gibraltar contained in the Brussels Agreement?”
ognise its legitimacy.
The Spanish position has long been that the issue should be resolved bilaterally between the UK and Spain, and that the population of Gibraltar has no say in determining its own future.
With a turnout of 93% of 11,800 voters a staggering 99% voted no
The referendum went ahead unilaterally to Spanish protests and without endorsement from the British government. But the result could hardly have been more conclusive.
With a turnout of 93% (around 11,000 out of 11,800 registered voters), a staggering 99% (over 10,900) voted no.
The Spanish government, nonplussed with the referendum and its outcome, initially refused to rec-
Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ana Palacio, even called the referendum ‘illegal’ and argued it contradicted UN resolutions on the issue.
But why were the people of Gibraltar so adamant against shared sovereignty with Spain?
Dr Ballantine Perera recalled her father telling her when news of the joint-sovereignty plans emerged. He told her Gibraltar had been British for longer than that the USA has existed – ‘it’s like if the British returned to Washington DC saying they still have a claim on America.’
Dr Ballantine Perera’s father was a young man during the closure of
the Border by the Franco regime in 1969, and had experienced border restrictions for at least 10 years prior to the actual closure.
The memory of this runs very deep among Gibraltarians and has led to a degree of mistrust that flares-up from time to time, as it did in 2002.
However, with the referendum result a simple but emphatic declaration of the will of the people, the Brussels Agreement was sunk.
The British government remembered its democratic principles and performed an abrupt aboutface.
Jack Straw, the then-UK Foreign Secretary, assured the Gibraltarians that any change in Gibraltar’s status would not occur without their consent, effectively settling the issue of joint sovereignty once and for all.
It paved the way for the present negotiations, in which Gibraltar might have no choice but to give up some hard-fought sovereignty after all in order to keep the border open.
National Day Events
Entertainment on the Ocean Village Marina Events Pontoon
Join the action on the pontoon or visit for prime seats to view all the action.
15:00 - 18:00 Silent Disco
19:00 - 21:00 Michael Bublé tribute act live Cuban music, dance fiesta and firegirl show
09:00-12:00 National Day Breakfast Party
13:00 - 16:00 John Robba live music
16:30 - 19:30 DJ David Cherish
08:30 Breakfast buffet
National Day Carvery (Pre-bookings only) live music on the Arena outdoor stage featuring Alexej Baglietto Band / Jesse Sampere / Caitlin Lavagna
Bottomless Brunch £32.95 all day (Pre-bookings only)
13:00 - 15:00 BBQ Buffet All day DJ’s Dalliflow, Shiv3rs, Staggy & Wayne plus Kuka Morales live nobiggie afterparty
13:00 - 18:00 DJ Rookie Shwartz