Celebrate National Day: Join the Festivities for the Grand Duke's Birthday in Luxembourg!

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It's National Day in Luxembourg! This celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday is a great opportunity for everyone to gather for festivities organised across the entire country on the 22nd and 23rd of June. Every year, people come together to show their connection to the Grand Duchy and celebrate their home and its traditions. A perfect occasion for two days filled with concerts, fireworks, games for children, and commemorative ceremonies.

Popular festivals galore

The ceremonies will get under way at 4 p.m. on June 22nd with the traditional changing of the guard in front of the Grand Ducal Palace. An honorary detachment from the Luxembourg Army participates in the event. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Luxembourg Military Band.

This day is also an opportunity to meet members of the Grand Ducal families: while the Grand Ducal couple visits a different town in Luxembourg each year, the Hereditary Grand Duke, accompanied by his wife, always visits the country's second-largest city, Esch-sur-Alzette.

Torchlight procession and fireworks

The eve of Luxembourg's National Day is above all a time for festivities. Numerous popular events are organised across the entire country. The programme is so loaded that wherever you are, you can be sure that you will be among the festivities.

One of the main events of the evening is undoubtedly the Fakelzuch (torchlight procession). This is a parade where national and local associations march together through the City of Luxembourg and pass by Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. The popularity of this tradition is evident not only in the size of the torchlight procession, which counted around 2,500 participants last year and stretched over half a kilometre, but also in the variety of participating groups. From scouts to sports clubs to brass bands and folklore groups, various associations participate in this parade, reflecting the diversity of Luxembourgish society.

The evening's stunning finale takes place at 11 p.m., as the sky above the Adolphe Bridge bursts into flames with a spectacular fireworks display. A long-awaited moment by thousands of people each year!

Glimpses of the National Day

  1. The festivities begin with the changing of the guard in front of the Grand Ducal Palace by a detachment of honour on the 22nd of June, the eve of National Day.

    © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

  2. On the evening of 22 June, a torchlight procession lights up the centre of Luxembourg City.

    © SIP / Anthony Dehez

  3. This procession is attended not only by various Luxembourg societies, but also by groups from the various foreign communities in Luxembourg.

    © SIP / Anthony Dehez

  4. The procession passes in front of the grandstand, where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess have taken their seats to watch the parade.

    © SIP / Anthony Dehez

  5. Following the official part, the city centre is transformed into a gigantic party area, the same as in other localities throughout the Grand Duchy.

    © SIP / Charles Caratini

  6. The fireworks, which are launched from the Adolphe Bridge at 11 pm, light up the sky for almost 20 minutes.

    © LMIH / Focalize

  7. The festivities on June 23 begin with the official ceremony at the Philharmonie, featuring speeches by HRH the Grand Duke, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Minister of State.

    © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

  8. During the event, honorary distinctions are awarded, as shown here to the journalist Philip Crowther in 2022. A concert by the Philharmonic Orchestra brings the event to a close.

    © Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

  9. 21 cannon shots from the height of the Fetschenhof follow the ceremony in the Philharmonie.

    © Armée luxembourgeoise

  10. The military parade, or "taking up arms", always draws large crowds. At noon, the Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duke review the troops in the Avenue de la Libérté.

    © SIP / Emmanuel Claude

  11. Army and police detachments then parade past the podium where the Head of State is seated.

    © SIP / Emmanuel Claude

  12. Detachments from the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS), among others, complete the procession. A key moment was also the overflight by an A400M aircraft piloted by Luxembourg officers.

    © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

  13. The celebrations conclude with the Te Deum at Notre-Dame Cathedral.

    © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

Ceremonies, parade and events

The programme for National Day starts on 23rd June at 10 a.m. with an official ceremony at the Luxembourg Philharmonie. The Grand Ducal family attends, along with deputies, government officials, and the public. First and foremost, it is an occasion for the Grand Duke, the Prime Minister and the President of the Chamber of Deputies to address the nation. Another highlight is the presentation of awards to deserving Luxembourgers.

It goes without saying that the Philharmonie goes hand in hand with concerts. In fact, the official ceremony ends with music played by the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. Each year, the honour of creating this musical piece goes to a different composer. This year's chosen piece is by David Laborier, a Luxembourgish guitarist, jazz musician, and music professor.

The ceremony in the Philharmonie is followed by the traditional 21-gun salute fired in the Grand Duke's honour.

At noon, the ceremonial drill and military parade on the Avenue de la Liberté (also known as Nei Avenue) always draw crowds, with spectators lining the boulevard to watch the troops march. Representatives of the army, police, customs, Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps, as well as the prison administration, Red Cross and music bands of the Grand Duke Adolphe Union participate in the parade. Luxembourg military planes fly over the parade at low altitude.

The official programme ends with the traditional Te Deum in the late afternoon at Notre-Dame de Luxembourg Cathedral, attended by members of the Grand Ducal family.

Entertainment for everybody

  • On top of the official ceremonies, there is the traditional and very successful Spillfest (games event) on the Kinnekswiss, a large green area amidst the City's Municipal Park. This event, which takes place on June 23rd from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., provides an opportunity to discover some unusual educational games offered by a number of associations and artists. Attendance is free of charge.
  • On June 22nd and 23rd, the City Sounds event transforms the Champ du Glacis into an open-air festival. With a diverse line-up featuring renowned artists, it offers a vibrant atmosphere for music lovers.
  • For fans of military vehicles and uniforms, the army organises its Arméifest (army festival) on the Place de Metz. There, the army displays military vehicles and systems and you can enjoy a friendly drink.
Discover an overview of the festive calendar of the Grand Duchy.

Bound by creativity, sustained by diversity

© LMIH

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