v3.26.1
Additional disclosures - Parent company condensed cash flow statements (Details) - EUR (€)
€ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
1. Cash flows from operating activities      
Profit or loss for the year € 15,500 € 13,744 € 12,183
Adjustments to profit 31,347 28,361 26,948
Net increase/decrease in operating assets (119,257) (117,996) (74,982)
Net increase/decrease in operating liabilities 62,529 57,616 46,080
Reimbursements/payments of income tax (4,954) (5,880) (5,214)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES (14,835) (24,155) 5,015
2. Cash flows from investing activities      
Investments (-) (7,925) (11,355) (15,056)
Divestments (+) 8,459 7,643 9,690
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 534 (3,712) (5,366)
3. Cash flows from financing activities      
Issuance of own equity instruments 0 0 0
Disposal of own equity instruments 815 765 825
Acquisition of own equity instruments (4,081) (4,038) (3,109)
Dividends paid (3,341) (3,017) (2,261)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES (14,203) (5,510) (2,058)
D) Effect of foreign exchange rate differences (8,908) 5,243 (322)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (37,412) (28,134) (2,731)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 192,208 220,342  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE YEAR 152,281 192,208 220,342
Banco Santander, S.A. | Reportable Legal Entities      
1. Cash flows from operating activities      
Profit or loss for the year 11,113 10,101 9,239
Adjustments to profit (1,119) (4,439) (3,746)
Net increase/decrease in operating assets (60,570) (63,686) (6,765)
Net increase/decrease in operating liabilities 41,113 27,480 (6,880)
Reimbursements/payments of income tax (862) (591) (360)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES (10,325) (31,135) (8,512)
2. Cash flows from investing activities      
Investments (-) (4,231) (2,915) (5,458)
Divestments (+) 9,210 9,544 10,880
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 4,979 6,629 5,422
3. Cash flows from financing activities      
Issuance of own equity instruments 0 0 0
Disposal of own equity instruments 578 485 649
Acquisition of own equity instruments (3,865) (3,740) (2,974)
Issuance of debt securities 1,852 5,625 5,636
Redemption of debt securities (8,310) (3,615) (1,813)
Dividends paid (3,341) (3,017) (2,261)
Issuance/Redemption of equity instruments 0 (751) 0
Other collections/payments related to financing activities (141) (300) (166)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES (13,227) (5,313) (929)
D) Effect of foreign exchange rate differences (4,099) 2,256 (1,044)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (22,671) (27,563) (5,063)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 97,457 125,020 130,083
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE YEAR € 74,786 € 97,457 € 125,020