On what date was Colombia's current flag arrangement officially adopted?

Colombia’s current flag arrangement was officially adopted on 26 November 1861.

The arrangement established the familiar horizontal yellow, blue, and red tricolor. The yellow stripe occupies the upper half of the flag, while blue and red each occupy one quarter, creating a 2:1:1 vertical proportion. The law adopted the arrangement during the period of the United States of New Granada, before the country became the modern Republic of Colombia.

The colors have an older revolutionary history. They originated in designs associated with Francisco de Miranda and were adopted successively by Gran Colombia in 1819 and the Republic of New Granada in 1834. Thus, 1861 marks the official adoption of the present arrangement, not the first appearance of the colors.

Later regulations clarified how the flag is used. Decree No. 861 of 1924 and Decree No. 62 of 1934 addressed official details and applications. Colombia’s flag is often confused with Ecuador’s because both descend from the Gran Colombian tradition, but Ecuador uses a coat of arms on its government flag and has different legal specifications.