Spain is on a 24-hour general strike today, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, and flights and trains are running on government-ordered minimum services. Expect cancellations on short domestic flights, fewer Renfe and metro trains, and possible closures of shops and museums until midnight. The disruption doesn’t end tonight: Spain’s train drivers’ union has moved a planned Thursday strike to Monday, Nov. 23, and kept a rail-sector strike on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Here’s what is running and what to do if your trip is affected.

Why Spain is on strike today

The walkout was called by Spain’s two largest unions, CCOO and UGT, under the slogan “wages, housing, prices.” It is the first general strike the two unions have called together since Nov. 14, 2012, according to Público. The main grievance is housing: soaring rents and a shortage of affordable homes in big cities, a cause that gained momentum after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid who had lived in her home for seven decades, as The Independent reports.

The strike runs from 00:00 to 23:59 on Nov. 11 and comes less than three weeks before a national election, the Associated Press notes. Al Jazeera says schools, healthcare and other public services are also affected, with minimum services kept in essential sectors.

Flights: what the minimum services mean

Spain’s Ministry of Transport has set minimum services of between 18% and 85% of scheduled flights, depending on the route and airport, according to Europa Press:

• Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla: 56% to 85% of flights. Canaries routes are protected at 56% to 74% depending on the airport, the Balearics at 68% to 75%, Ceuta at 80% and Melilla at 59%.
• International flights, and mainland routes where the alternative by public transport takes five hours or more: 39% to 64%.
• Short mainland routes with a train or bus alternative under five hours (think Madrid–Valencia or Madrid–Barcelona-type hops): just 18% to 37%. These are the flights most likely to be cancelled.
• Emergency, medical and state flights are protected at 100%.

Airlines flying into Spain are warning of knock-on effects. Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Discover, says cancellations and delays should be expected, and affected passengers can rebook once free of charge or get a refund, per Travel Monitor. If you’re connecting through another hub, it’s worth checking our guide to the airlines still suspending Saudi Arabia flights, since several European carriers are juggling more than one disruption this month.

Trains: Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo

Renfe’s minimum services for the general strike, set by the ministry, are:

• Cercanías (commuter trains): 75% of normal service at peak times (06:00–09:00, 13:30–15:30 and 18:30–20:30) and 50% the rest of the day.
• Media Distancia (regional trains): an average of 65%.
• AVE high-speed and long-distance trains: 73%.

Private high-speed operators have published their own plans: Iryo has guaranteed 32 of its 44 scheduled trains and Ouigo 18 of its 26, according to Travel Monitor.

Treat those percentages as a best case. During Tuesday’s separate train drivers’ strike, Renfe said minimum services were not met and up to 91.87% of its trains were cancelled, affecting around 500,000 people, Onda Cero reported. Train travel in Spain is usually one of the easiest ways to get around, as our European train travel itinerary shows, but this week it pays to have a backup.

Separately, rail services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalucía remain suspended after the Oct. 28 rail accident near Urda, in Toledo province, along with through services from Barcelona and Valencia to Andalucía. Australia’s Smartraveller has given no reopening date, Travel Monitor says, so anyone heading to Seville, Córdoba or Málaga by train should check alternatives.

Metro and buses in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia

City transport minimums are set by each region, and they vary a lot:

Madrid

Metro de Madrid is running 80% of its usual trains at peak times (07:30–09:30, 14:00–16:00 and 18:00–20:00) and an average of 50% the rest of the day, with at least two trains per line, according to the Madrid regional transport consortium (CRTM). EMT city buses run 50% of service on lines that don’t overlap with the Metro and 40% on lines that do.

Barcelona and Catalonia

Catalonia has set much lower minimums: 25% during peak periods (06:40–09:30 and 16:30–21:00) on Rodalies, regional trains, Barcelona Metro, TMB buses, FGC and the tram. Outside those hours no minimum service has been set, Público reports, so expect long gaps or no service at all in the middle of the day and late at night.

Valencia

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) is running 80% of its services, Valencia’s metropolitan transport 70% to 80%, and interurban buses 40% to 55%.

Beyond transport: shops, museums and demonstrations

The US Embassy in Spain has warned that “museums, shops, restaurants, and pharmacies may be closed” and that demonstrations “can cause last-minute closures or cancellations,” The Independent reports. Large marches are expected in Madrid and Barcelona, which can block streets and slow traffic. The UK government’s travel advice says demonstrations in Spain can happen with little warning and asks visitors to follow police instructions and move away from any signs of disorder. If you’re sightseeing today, check opening hours before you go, carry some cash and keep your plans loose.

More rail strikes are coming: Nov. 17 and Nov. 23

Spain’s train drivers’ union, Semaf, had called Renfe strikes for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Thursday, Nov. 12. On Nov. 10, after the government approved a decree on rail safety, the union said it was moving Thursday’s strike to Monday, Nov. 23, and keeping a sector-wide rail strike on Tuesday, Nov. 17. That means trains should run normally on Thursday, Nov. 12, but anyone travelling by train in Spain on Nov. 17 or Nov. 23 should expect disruption. Minimum services for those dates were not in the sources we checked, so look for announcements from Renfe and the ministry a few days before.

What to do if your trip is affected

1. Check before you leave. Use your airline’s or rail operator’s app and website, and watch your email and texts for changes, as Público advises.
2. If your flight is cancelled, you can choose between a full refund, which should be paid within seven days, or rerouting to your destination. The airline also has to provide care while you wait, such as meals and a hotel if you’re stuck overnight. Cash compensation of €250 to €600 may apply in some cases, but not when you were told at least 14 days ahead or the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, per Público.
3. If your Renfe train is cancelled, you can choose a refund or alternative transport. Público says that if the cancellation is announced less than four hours before departure, travellers may also be entitled to compensation of twice the ticket price, with some legal exceptions. Note that a strike being called doesn’t let you cancel a ticket for free if your train still runs.
4. Keep everything: tickets, booking emails, cancellation notices and receipts for meals or hotels, in case you need to file a claim.
5. Build in buffer time for Nov. 17 and Nov. 23 if you’re travelling by train, and consider a bus or rental car for short hops.

Strikes have become a regular part of European travel this autumn. Our guide to the Nov. 5 France strike covers how passenger rights worked there, and if you’re also passing through southern Italy, see what’s happening with the Naples Airport closure.

FAQ

Is there a strike in Spain today?

Yes. A nationwide 24-hour general strike is taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, from 00:00 to 23:59, called by the CCOO and UGT unions over housing, wages and prices.

Are flights cancelled in Spain on Nov. 11?

Some are. Minimum services range from 18% to 37% of flights on short mainland routes up to 85% on some island routes, so short domestic flights are the most affected. International flights must run at 39% to 64%. Check with your airline.

Are trains running during the Spain general strike?

Renfe must run 73% of AVE and long-distance trains, an average of 65% of regional trains and 75% of commuter trains at peak times (50% off-peak). Actual service may be lower if minimums aren’t met, as happened during Tuesday’s drivers’ strike.

Is the Nov. 12 train strike in Spain still on?

No. Semaf moved its Nov. 12 Renfe strike to Monday, Nov. 23. A rail-sector strike is still planned for Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Will shops and museums be open?

Many will be, but the US Embassy warns that museums, shops, restaurants and pharmacies may close. Check opening hours on the day.