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📅 holiday

Meeting of Two Worlds

Monday, October 12, 2026

— days to go

Some Latin American nations have dropped the celebration of Day of the Race, but Chile has not. Here, the day is called “Dia de la Raza”, (Day of the Race) as it has been known in many other countries with a Spanish colonial heritage. In 2026, Meeting of Two Worlds falls on Monday 12 October. The holiday will be on Monday 11 October in 2027. However, there is growing resistance to Day of the Race in Chile today. In Santiago, the capital and largest city, there’s an annual parade celebrating indigenous culture and protesting the “ongoing exploitation” of native people groups. Day of the Race comes on the second Monday in October, around the time that Columbus first discovered the Americas back in 1492. That event brought huge changes, both positive and negative, to North and South America. And it was Columbus’ historic voyage that triggered the long chain of events that eventually formed the modern composition of the Western Hemisphere. There are those who still celebrate the day. But the controversy surrounding the day is also very real in Chile.

History

Day of the Race comes on the second Monday in October, around the time that Columbus first discovered the Americas back in 1492. That event brought huge changes, both positive and negative, to North and South America. And it was Columbus’ historic voyage that triggered the long chain of events that eventually formed the modern composition of the Western Hemisphere

How It's Celebrated

Some Latin American nations have dropped the celebration of Day of the Race, but Chile has not. The holiday will be on Monday 11 October in 2027. In Santiago, the capital and largest city, there’s an annual parade celebrating indigenous culture and protesting the “ongoing exploitation” of native peo

Other Years

2026 Mon
12 Oct
2027 Mon
11 Oct
2028 Mon
9 Oct
2025 Sun
12 Oct
2024 Sat
12 Oct

Countries

🇨🇱 CL

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