Palafrugell Diada Poster Sparks Controversy Over Apparent Spanish Flag Illusion

A photograph of the Diada National Day poster in Palafrugell went viral due to an optical illusion, which has since been corrected.

Diada poster in Palafrugell with a stylized design creating an optical illusion.
IA

Diada poster in Palafrugell with a stylized design creating an optical illusion.

A photograph of the Diada National Day poster in Palafrugell went viral this weekend for its apparent resemblance to the Spanish flag, an optical illusion that has now been corrected.

An image of the Diada National Day poster in Palafrugell, circulated on social media, sparked controversy for seemingly replicating the colors of the Spanish flag. The photograph, captured from a particular angle on the Municipal Theatre's screen, drew criticism from Esquerra, Junts, and various users.
The original poster, designed by the Palafrugell City Council, features a yellow background with a stylized red figure in the center, symbolizing the Catalan flag (senyera). The red perceived in the viral photograph originated from the side bands that the horizontal screen added to fill the excess space of the poster's vertical format.

The original poster, however, has no red stripes, only a yellow background.

This combination of tones created the optical effect that led to the confusion. A few hours after the image and criticisms were disseminated, the display was corrected to eliminate this effect.
The poster includes the texts 'Diada Nacional de Catalunya', 'Palafrugell', and '11 Setembre 2026' in black. The program of events for the Diada in Palafrugell includes performances by dance groups, parades of giants, an institutional address with flag-raising, and sardana music.