📅 When is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is commemorated every 8 March around the world. In 2026, this significant date falls on a Sunday, which will allow greater participation in the protest and cultural events programmed in Seville and the rest of Spain.
Seville is preparing for an intense day where protest, culture and memory will go hand in hand in the streets and cultural spaces of the city. From THE SUN PLACES, we invite you to learn about the history of this date and to take part in the events that turn the Andalusian capital into a space for reflection and celebration of female diversity.
📜Origin and History of International Women’s Day: Why is it Celebrated on 8 March?
The history of International Women’s Day has its roots in the labour movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, at a time of great industrial transformation when women began to raise their voices against inhuman working conditions.
🌃 The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911)
One of the most tragic events that marked this date was the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York on 25 March 1911, in which 146 workers died, mostly immigrant women, who were unable to leave the building due to appalling safety conditions. This event shocked public opinion and became a symbol of the struggle for women’s labour rights.
🗳️ The Political Origin: Clara Zetkin and the Second Socialist Conference (1910)
But the commemoration itself has a clear political origin. In 1910, during the Second International Conference of Socialist Women held in Copenhagen, German activist Clara Zetkin proposed the creation of an annual day of struggle for women’s rights. The proposal was unanimously approved by more than one hundred women from 17 countries.
The following year, on 19 March 1911, International Working Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, with rallies that brought together more than a million people demanding the right to vote, to hold public office, to vocational training and to non‑discrimination in the workplace.
🇷🇺 8 March and the Russian Revolution (1917)
The definitive date, 8 March, has its origin in the Russian Revolution of 1917. That year, Russian women took to the streets on the last Sunday of February (according to the Julian calendar, which corresponded to 8 March in the Gregorian calendar) under the slogan "Bread and peace", sparking a strike that led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and paved the way for women’s suffrage.
🌍 United Nations Recognition (1975-1977)
It was not until 1972 that the United Nations General Assembly, through resolution 3010, declared 1975 as International Women’s Year. Two years later, in 1977, the UN invited all countries to dedicate a day as International Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, leaving each state to choose the date according to its historical tradition. Finally, 8 March was consolidated as the universal day of women’s demands.
🏛️ What Does 8M Mean for Seville and Andalusia?
In Seville, International Women’s Day has a special meaning. A city with such deep tradition and roots also knows how to look to the future and join social demands. Every year, thousands of Sevillians take to the streets to take part in demonstrations, cultural events and rallies that remind us of the importance of continuing the fight for equality.
The city is tinged with purple, the colour that symbolises this cause, and events multiply: manifestos, performances, concerts, exhibitions and debates that focus on the inequalities that still persist. From Seville City Council to women’s associations, feminist groups and trade unions, everyone joins a day that is, above all, a day of protest.
⚖️ Why is it Still Necessary?
Despite advances, 8 March remains a necessary date. According to United Nations data:
- Women remain globally disadvantaged on sustainable development indicators.
- The gender pay gap persists in practically every country in the world.
- In 39 countries, daughters have fewer inheritance rights than sons.
- Two‑thirds of human trafficking victims are women.
- Every two seconds, a girl is forced into child marriage.
- Gender‑based violence continues to claim thousands of lives each year.
🏃♀️ Other Activities: The Women’s Race (November)
Although the main event is in March, Seville also hosts the Women’s Race in November, a sporting and charity event that fights against breast cancer and gender violence. In 2025, over 15,000 participants were expected and funds were raised for the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC).
🏡 THE SUN PLACES and 8M: Commitment to Equality
For those of us who are part of THE SUN PLACES, International Women’s Day is not just another day. It is an opportunity to reflect, to join the struggle and to reaffirm our commitment to equality.
💜 A Message from THE SUN PLACES
"8 March is a date for memory, struggle and hope. At THE SUN PLACES, we join this day by demanding real equality, respect and opportunities for all women. Because equality is not a department; it is a way of living, working and understanding the world."
📞 Contact THE SUN PLACES to book your luxury apartment in Seville during 8M. Experience equality, memory and hope from the heart of the city.