Spain’s “Marcha Real” is performed without official lyrics because it is an instrumental national march.
The melody is traditionally associated with Spain’s monarchy and is used at state ceremonies, sporting events and other official occasions. Unlike many national anthems, it does not have a currently approved text for public singing.
Several attempts have been made to provide words. A lyric proposal was commissioned in the late 2000s, but it did not become Spain’s official anthem text. Earlier lyrics were also connected with particular political periods rather than accepted as a lasting national standard.
The anthem’s official melody is generally played in a short ceremonial version. Its lack of lyrics means that audiences normally stand for an instrumental performance rather than sing along, a feature that distinguishes Spain from most countries with widely sung anthems.