In Madrid, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron mark the return of a French presidential visit after 17 years of absence
On September 29 and 30, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron are expected in Madrid, at the invitation of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. This presidential visit will be the first by a French head of state to Spain since 2009: a diplomatic return filled with symbols, including official ceremonies, a state dinner, and discussions on artificial intelligence.
In brief: two days of meetings at the heart of Franco-Spanish relations, focusing on digital issues, economic cooperation, and reunions with the royal couple. The agenda also includes a friendship treaty signed in 2023 but still awaiting ratification by Spain.
Madrid welcomes Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron after 17 years of absence
On Tuesday, September 29, the French president is to be received with military honors before heading to the Royal Palace. A ceremony in homage to those who died for Spain, a lunch, and a meeting with Felipe VI will punctuate the first part of the day. For the French presidency, the significance of the trip goes beyond protocol: it brings back to the forefront a close European relationship, after seventeen years without a French state visit.
The visit will continue at Carlos III University of Madrid, where discussions will focus on youth, social networks, and artificial intelligence. These topics feed into the diplomacy of both countries, particularly concerning the protection of minors online. In the evening, Felipe VI and Letizia will host their guests for a state dinner scheduled for 8 PM.
Artificial intelligence and economy at the heart of the program
On Wednesday, September 30, Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with French and Spanish economic actors, before a Franco-Spanish summit with the monarch. A lunch with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is also scheduled. The economic agenda adds a concrete dimension to this reunion: beyond the official images, Paris and Madrid are looking to advance their cooperations.
The program also includes a stop at the European Union Satellite Centre, followed by a visit to the Casa de Velázquez, a French institution dedicated to research in the humanities. The day is expected to conclude with a reception at the French ambassador’s residence scheduled for 7 PM. However, one file remains pending: the friendship treaty signed in January 2023 has not yet been ratified by Spain.
The Macrons and Felipe VI, a relationship already punctuated by meetings
The two couples have met several times. In October 2018, they visited an exhibition dedicated to Joan Miró at the Grand Palais in Paris. Felipe VI and Letizia were then received at the Élysée in March 2020, and the four crossed paths in Madrid in June 2022 during the NATO summit.
The King of Spain was also in Paris in July 2024, the day before the opening of the Olympic Games. In January 2026, he returned alone and had lunch with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron before heading to Versailles. These stages give the September meeting a visible diplomatic continuity, without eclipsing its unprecedented nature since 2009.
A closely watched diplomatic return
The visit also provides an opportunity to assess the importance given to Franco-Spanish relations in European discussions, from digital regulation to space cooperation. To follow the official announcements and planned steps, the program is detailed by BFMTV in its article dedicated to the visit. The meeting between Brigitte Macron and Letizia of Spain also attracts the attention of observers.
The account of this visit is part of a history filled with official meetings and common issues, rather than simply staging a royal dinner. For more information about Sébastien Auzière and the Macron family, visit sebastien-auziere.fr.
