Thousands took to the streets across Chile on Sunday, March 8, 2026, to mark International Women’s Day, with a large demonstration in Santiago highlighting concerns about the incoming government and the future of women’s rights. The marches come as Chile prepares for a shift in political leadership, with the recent election of José Antonio Kast.
The Santiago march began in Plaza Italia and proceeded along Alameda, the capital’s main thoroughfare. Demonstrators carried signs and voiced slogans, including “Not one step back, one hundred forward.”
Vesna Madariaga, a spokesperson for the 8M Coordinator, expressed apprehension about the transition, stating, “It is a moment of closure for a government that self-defined as feminist, which instrumentalized feminism, and we realize that the feminist movement is an autonomous movement. We are well aware of the far-right in this country, we have lived through dictatorship and know the anti-rights and anti-women agenda that it brings, therefore we are on alert.”
As the current administration nears its end, outgoing Minister of Women and Gender Equity, Antonia Orellana, acknowledged a shift in perspective, saying, “From March 11, we will look at these challenges from the other side.” She urged continued support for existing policies, adding, “We know that these urgencies transcend any administration. Our call today is clear: safeguarding what has been built and guaranteeing the continuity of public policies is an obligation of the country. Only then can we notice results, not with orientations that change every four years.”
The march in the capital featured artistic expressions and a strong show of solidarity. Similar demonstrations took place in cities throughout Chile.
